SDSU FALLS IN SERIES FINALE IN VERMILLION

Sunday, March 22

Vermillion, S.D.

12 p.m.

South Dakota State University

17-20, 2-1

South Dakota

9-23-1, 1-2

South Dakota State

South Dakota

A woman in a grey softball uniform with blue and yellow accent colors swings a bat and makes contact with a softball

Emma Christensen

Photo by: Andrew Pedersen

3/22/2026 3:10:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Andrew Pedersen

VERMILLION, S.D. – South Dakota State was unable to make up for 15 runners left on base as a five-run sixth inning for South Dakota led to an 8-6 victory for the Coyotes on Sunday, March 22, at Nygaard Field. The Jackrabbits won two of three games in the series and previously clinched a point for SDSU in the Interstate Series, presented by First Interstate Bank, on Saturday.

The Jacks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Amanda Vacanti hit a two-run home run then Akayla Barnard made it back-to-back homers on the first pitch she saw to put SDSU in front.

After a quiet first inning, South Dakota responded with three runs in the second to tie the score. It remained a 3-3 ballgame until the fifth inning. SDSU's Emma Christensen scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-3. An Alivya Bollen RBI ground out in the top of the sixth extended the Jackrabbits' advantage to 5-3.

SDSU pitcher Hailey Herman came on in relief to begin the third inning. She worked through three frames unscathed, but ran into trouble in the sixth. Herman would be replaced in the inning, however the Coyotes eventually scored five runs with two outs already recorded.

The Jackrabbits attempted to rally in the seventh. SDSU scored one run on a sacrifice fly by Abby Gentry to cut the score to 8-6. The Jacks had two runners on base, but South Dakota's Madison Evans closed out a complete game by forcing a ground out and help the Yotes avoid a series sweep.

SDSU was unable to overcome leaving runners on base. The Jackrabbits had innings end with the bases loaded on two occasions.

Madi Mangulis pitched the first two innings for the Jackrabbits. Herman was credited with the loss in 3 2/3 innings of work. Tayler Baker closed out the sixth inning for SDSU.

Vacanti and Christensen each had two hits for the Jackrabbits. Vacanti had two of SDSU's five RBIs. Barnard and Bria Riebel scored two runs apiece.

NOTES

South Dakota State dropped to 17-20 overall on the season. The Jackrabbits are now 2-1 to begin Summit League play.
SDSU's seven-game win streak in Vermillion was halted in the defeat.
The Jackrabbits helped provide a point for SDSU Athletics in the Interstate Series, presented by First Interstate Bank. SDSU has beat South Dakota in their regular season series meetings for seven straight seasons. The Jackrabbits' last series defeat to the Coyotes came in 2017.
Christensen led SDSU in hitting during the series. She went 5-for-8 (.625) and scored a team-high four runs.
Three other Jackrabbits had averages over .300 during the three-game series. They included Gentry (.429), Emma Vike (.400) and Mia Buske (.400).

UP NEXT
South Dakota State begins a home stand of six consecutive Summit League games. The Jackrabbits first host North Dakota in a three-game series. The Jacks and Fighting Hawks begin the three-game set at 4 p.m. on Friday at Jerald T. Moriarty Field.

-GoJacks.com-