JACKS HOLD OFF MAVS TO ADVANCE TO TITLE GAME

Friday, May 10

Brookings, S.D.

1 p.m.

South Dakota State University

33-20

Omaha

38-13

OMAHA

South Dakota State

Tori Kniesche

Photo by: Evan Patzwald

5/10/2024 5:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Andrew Pedersen

BROOKINGS, S.D. — Tori Kniesche put together another impressive performance in the circle and a two-run home run by Rozelyn Carrillo proved to be the difference as South Dakota State defeated Omaha, 2-1, in the winner's bracket game of the 2024 Summit League Softball Championship on Friday. The Jackrabbits' win over the Mavericks at Jackrabbit Softball Stadium advanced SDSU to the conference title game.

A quintessential pitcher's between SDSU's Tori Kniesche and Omaha's Kameryn Meyer was the story of the early innings. Meyer struck out seven batters and allowed just a walk in her first three frames of work, while Kniesche gave up two hits in her first four innings pitched.

The Jackrabbits' first hit of the game came in the bottom of the fourth. It served as the eventual game-winning at-bat.

Emma Osmundson led the inning off by being hit by a pitch. Following a fly out by Lindsey Culver, Carrillo came up to the plate. On an 0-1 pitch, Carrillo hit a pitch on the outside-part of the plate to the opposite field. The ball sailed over the right-field fence and gave the Jackrabbits a 2-0 lead.

Omaha struck back immediately in the top of the fifth. Ava Rongisch led the inning off with a solo home run over the right-field foul pole to cut the score to 2-1. The Mavericks had two more singles in the inning to put two runners on base with one out. Consecutive fly outs to Jackrabbit left fielder Lindsey Culver got Kniesche out of the potential threat.

Mia Jarecki and Culver hit singles in back-to-back innings for the Jackrabbits, but SDSU was unable to plate another run. Kniesche continued her strong effort and breezed through a 1-2-3 sixth inning. She came back to the rubber for the top of the seventh with the 2-1 edge.

Kniesche faced Rongisch to begin the frame and the Maverick hitter drove a 2-2 pitch deep to center field. With the wind blowing in from left field, the ball sailed down in front of the warning track into the glove of Jocelyn Carrillo. Kniesche closed the game out by recording a full-count strikeout followed by a fly out to Culver.

South Dakota State has advanced to The Summit League Championship for the fourth consecutive season and for the fifth time in the previous six possible seasons.

Kniesche threw a complete game for the Jackrabbits for the 16th time this season. She went all seven innings and allowed five hits and one run. Kniesche struck out nine batters while not allowing a fress pass in the game. She improved to 17-6 on the year.

Omaha's Meyer gave up just four hits. She registered nine strikeouts while she walked and hit a batter apiece. She dropped to 23-4 on the season.

Notes

South Dakota State is now 33-20 overall on the season. Omaha is now 39-13 after two games on Friday.
The Jackrabbits will have two opportunities to win the championship game as part of the double-elimination format of the tournament on Saturday.

Up Next
SDSU will face a rematch against Omaha in the championship game as the Mavericks beat Kansas City in the afternoon elimination game Friday. The Jackrabbits and Mavs will square off at 1 p.m. Saturday at Jackrabbit Softball Stadium. The "if necessary" game of the championship, dependent on an Omaha victory, is slated for 3:30 p.m.

-GoJacks.com-