SDSU CONTINUES UNDEFEATED STAY IN TEXAS

Saturday, February 8

Commerce, Texas

9 a.m.

South Dakota State University

3-0

Stephen F. Austin

1-2

SFA

South Dakota State

Emma Christensen

Photo by: Mario Terrana

2/8/2025 8:42:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Pedersen

COMMERCE, Texas — The South Dakota State softball team picked up another pair of victories on Saturday at the East Texas A&M Leadoff tournament. The Jackrabbits improved to 4-0 with a 6-3 win over Stephen F. Austin, followed by a five-inning run rule 9-1 win against Texas Southern at Cain Family Field.

Game One
South Dakota State trailed after two innings of action, then scored six straight runs, before claiming the 6-3 victory over the Lumberjacks.

A solo home run and RBI single as part of a three-hit top of the second put SFA into the lead.

The Jackrabbits scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning. Alli Boyle got the frame started with a double, Emma Christensen hit a single and Emma Vike drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. A two-run single by Mia Jarecki tied the score at 2-2. Following a Jackrabbit strikeout, Abby Gentry hit a two-run double to put the Jackrabbits on top, 4-2.

An RBI single off the bat of Jarecki in the fourth, along with an RBI single from Akayla Barnard in the sixth, extended SDSU's lead to 6-2.

It was a game featuring the Jackrabbit bullpen. Sylvia Shromoff made her collegiate debut stepping into the circle in the third inning. She pitched two shutout innings, giving up a hit and allowing one walk. Shromoff wound up picking up the victory for her efforts.

Madi Mangulis stepped in for her in the fifth. She threw three innings and allowed one run on four hits. She struck out five Lumberjacks as Mangulis closed out the contest to pick up her first save as a Jackrabbit.

Jarecki recorded a team-high three hits and three RBIs. Barnard and Christensen had two hits apiece, while Christensen scored two runs.

Game Two
The Jackrabbits scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back in their victory over the Tigers.

A Madi Conklin RBI single and three-run double by Boyle put SDSU on top 4-0 early.

Texas Southern scored a run in the top of the third, but the Jacks responded in the bottom of the frame. Vike hit an RBI single and Jarecki plated two runners on a single of her own to extend the Jackrabbit advantage to 7-1.

SDSU's next time at-bat saw Alivya Bollen hit a two-run home run. Her second homer of the season put the Jackrabbits ahead, 9-1.

The pitching trio of Barnard, Hailey Herman and Amanda Vacanti combined for five innings of work. They allowed for five hits and a run. Vacanti, making her first college appearance in the circle, was credited with the win as she threw the final two innings of the game.

Gentry, Conklin and Boyle each had two hits. Bollen scored two runs.

NOTES

South Dakota State has five players hitting over .300 through four games. They include Jarecki (.692), Christensen (.667), Gentry (.417), Bollen (.375) and Boyle (.300). Jarecki has a team-high seven RBIs and Christensen has scored an SDSU-best six runs.
The Jackrabbit pitching staff has accumulated a 2.24 ERA through 25 innings of action.
The 4-0 start is the first for the program in its Division I era and the first since the NCAA sponsored softball (pre-1980).

UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits close out their stay at the East Texas A&M Leadoff on Sunday. SDSU plays Texas Southern at 11:30 a.m. and faces the host Lions at 2 p.m.

-GoJacks.com-