SDSU SOFTBALL SPLITS TWO CLOSE GAMES FRIDAY

Friday, February 14

Stephenville, Texas

12:15 p.m.

South Dakota State University

4-1

Akron

5-2

South Dakota State

Akron

Akayla Barnard

2/14/2025 9:58:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Pedersen

STEPHENVILLE, Texas — South Dakota State went 1-1 to begin play at Tarleton State's Whataburger Invitational on Friday, Feb. 14, at the Tarleton Softball Complex. The Jacks couldn't muster enough at the plate falling in their opener to Akron, 2-1, but rallied back to earn a 10-9 victory over Austin Peay.

Game One
The Jackrabbits were only able to produce two hits and two runs in the first three innings were enough for the Zips in a 2-1 decision.

SDSU came up to the plate first and had a bases loaded opportunity in the first frame thanks to three walks. The Jackrabbits were unable to plate a run as Amanda Vacanti lined out to right field for the third out.

A leadoff walk eventually found its way across home following a sacrifice bunt, ground out and wild pitch. That gave the Zips a 1-0 lead after the first inning of action.

They added another run in the third to make it a 2-0 score and chased SDSU starter Akayla Barnard from the circle. Madi Mangulis relieved her and helped the Jacks escape the inning without any more damage.

South Dakota State's lone hits of the ballgame came in the fourth. Brooke Dumont led the inning off with a double and was pinch run for by Quinn Marnocha. A one-out RBI single by Vacanti scored Marnocha to cut the deficit to 2-1.

It would be all SDSU's hitters could produce against Akron. The Jackrabbits were never able to get another runner to third base the remainder of the contest.

Akron starting pitcher Macy Walters threw a complete game. She improved to 2-0 as she allowed just one earned run on two hits and four walks while striking out two.

Barnard took the loss in 2 1/3 innings of work. Vacanti pitched the final three innings in the circle for SDSU and didn't allow a run. She gave up two hits and a walk but struck out three batters.

Game Two
South Dakota State rallied after trailing on two separate occasions, and hit a go-ahead home run in the seventh, en route to capturing 10-9 win over Austin Peay.

The Governors got out to a 3-0 lead through two innings of action. The fourth saw both teams register multiple runs.

SDSU's Mia Jarecki and Barnard walked to begin the top of the frame. Vacanti came up and crushed the first home run of her career to tie the score at 3-3. Austin Peay immediately broke up the tie in the bottom of the frame. Four hits in the inning, which included a two-run home run and two-run single, put the Govs ahead again at 7-3.

Fifth-inning singles by Jarecki and Vacanti put another pair of Jackrabbits on the bases. They would be plated on a two-out, three-run home run by Brooke Dumont to cut the score to 7-6.

Mangulis, who came on to pitch for SDSU during the fourth inning, kept the Jackrabbits in striking distance completing scoreless fifth and sixth frames. It brought SDSU up to bat for a possible final time in the seventh.

Barnard led the inning off with a solo home run to tie the score at 7-7. Vacanti and Dumont walked to get two runners on base. Cece Hanson and Lila McNeill came in to pinch run and the two Jackrabbits found their way to second and third base with two outs.

SDSU senior Alli Boyle came up and worked the count full to 3-2. The next pitch she saw she crushed over the center-field wall for a three-run home run. Her first homer of the season gave the Jacks their first lead of the day at 10-7.

Mangulis battled to close the game out. A leadoff single eventually came around to score on an infield error first, then a solo home run for Austin Peay made it 10-9 with two outs. Following another single, Mangulis got SDSU out of the threat with a fly out.

The junior pitcher picked up her first win for the Jackrabbits. She threw 3 2/3 innings and gave up five hits and two runs (none earned). Vacanti had a team-high three hits. Barnard and Emma Christensen each had two.

SDSU stands at 5-1 overall on the season following Friday's games.

UP NEXT
South Dakota State continues play at the Whataburger Invitational on Saturday. The Jackrabbits are slated to play Houston Christian at 9:30 a.m. and Tarleton State at 2 p.m.

-GoJacks.com-