SDSU CLAIMS PAIR OF WINS SATURDAY

Saturday, February 7

Commerce, Texas

3:45 p.m.

South Dakota State University

1-1

Bucknell

0-3

Bucknell

South Dakota State

Two softball players in blue uniforms yell at home while watching a teammate run

2/7/2026 10:21:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Pedersen

COMMERCE, Texas – South Dakota State softball completed a sweep in a pair of games during its second day of action at the East Texas A&M Leadoff on Saturday. The Jackrabbits beat Bucknell 7-3, then defeated the host Lions 9-2, at Cain Family Field.

Game One
Bucknell took a 2-0 lead in the opening inning, but a five-run third inning for South Dakota State broke the game open in a 7-3 victory for the Jackrabbits.

SDSU starter Hailey Herman gave up two hits that led to two runs,but limited the damage at that. She'd give up just one hit over her next two innings of work before the Jackrabbits' lineup came alive at the plate.

The Jacks totaled six hits leading to five runs in the bottom of the third. Doubles by Ella Berlage, Alli Boyle and Alivya Bollen all drove in runs, along with a two-run single by Emma Christensen, gave SDSU a 5-2 edge through three innings of action.

The Bisons loaded the bases in the fourth, however Herman again got out of the threat with Bucknell scoring just one as the Jackrabbits remained ahead 5-3.

SDSU extended its lead in the bottom of the frame. Akayla Barnard hit a one-out double and she was plated on a two-out RBI double by Abby Gentry. The Jacks put together another run in the next inning as Bollen hit a sacrifice fly scoring Christensen.

The Jackrabbits went to Madi Mangulis in relief to begin the fifth inning. She didn't allow a hit in the fifth, then got a double play in the sixth to get out of the frame after allowing two hits. Mangulis closed out her first save of the season by pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning.

South Dakota State totaled 11 hits in the ballgame. Gentry, Christensen, Boyle, and Bollen each had two hits. Christensen and Bollen had two RBIs each while Christensen scored two runs.

Game Two
South Dakota State scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back in its 9-2 win over East Texas A&M.

Barnard led the game off with a single and got the lineup rolling for SDSU as the Jackrabbits loaded the bases with one out. Christensen came up to bat and smacked a three-run double down the left-field line. She was followed by Boyle who hit an RBI single to give the Jackrabbits an early 4-0 advantage.

SDSU starter Amanda Vacanti allowed one run in the first. She allowed just one hit over her next four innings as the Jackrabbits added to their tally.

Bollen hit a lead-off home run in the fourth to make it a 5-1 score. Two RBI singles, one each by Boyle and Bria Riebel, pushed the SDSU lead to 7-1.

East Texas A&M hit a solo home run in the sixth to inch closer to SDSU. However, the Jackrabbits scored two more runs in the top of the seventh. Barnard brought in a pair of teammates with a two-run single to push the lead to 9-2.

Vacanti eventually closed out a complete-game performance. The SDSU sophomore pitched all seven innings and allowed two runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out seven.

A trio of Jackrabbits in Barnard, Boyle and Riebel finished with two hits. Barnard, Boyle and Christensen each had multiple RBIs.

NOTES

South Dakota State improved to 3-1 on the season with the pair of wins Saturday.
Through four games the Jackrabbits are led in hitting by Boyle and Bollen who each have .500 batting averages. Bollen has a team-high seven RBIs followed by Christensen's five. Barnard is hitting .467 followed by Berlage at .444.
Mangulis is atop the Jackrabbits' pitching staff with a 0.72 ERA. She's followed by Barnard (1.40) and Vacanti (2.74).

UP NEXT
South Dakota State closed out play at the East Texas A&M Leadoff on Sunday. The Jackrabbits face Stephen F. Austin in a rematch at 11:15 a.m.

-GoJacks.com-