FARGO – The Jackrabbits outhit North Dakota State Sunday, but couldn't capitalize on scoring chances in a 1-0 loss.

South Dakota State drops to 17-33 on the year and 4-11 in Summit League play.

Madison Hope (0-8) took the loss despite tossing six two-hit innings, allowing only four baserunners the entire contest. She retired the final nine batters faced in order.

Julia Andersen went 2-for-3 at the plate while Yanney Ponce tallied her fourth double of the season for a Jackrabbit team that outhit NDSU, 5-2.

SDSU put runners on in the first three innings, but fell short of taking an early lead before the Bison took advantage of a two-out RBI single to go ahead, 1-0.

The Jackrabbits' best threat came in the fifth, when after a leadoff double by Ponce, McKone laid down a sacrifice that moved the SDSU shortstop to third with one gone. NDSU, however, got out of the jam with a groundball and line drive out down the right field line.

Abbey Murphy was hit by a pitch to open the seventh, but the late rally didn't pan out as the Bison induced three fly balls to end the game.

Saturday’s Games

South Dakota State softball fell short in its doubleheader with North Dakota State Saturday, dropping the opener, 9-3, and the second game, 3-1.

Ashlyn Bender (9-12) started game one in the circle, allowing seven runs on 10 hits before exiting in the second. Katie Lang threw the final 4 1/3 innings, allowing just two runs while scattering four hits and three walks.

Ponce hit a two-run home run while Andersen (1-for-2) tallied SDSU's other RBI in the contest.

NDSU took a 2-0 lead in the first and built a seven-run advantage in the second with a five-spot.

Ponce's home run put the Jacks on the board in the third, drawing SDSU within five (7-2). McKone started the frame with a walk before Ponce hammered a 1-0 pitch over the right center wall for her first career blast.

Down 9-2 after the Bison added runs in the fourth and fifth innings, the Jacks got one more in the top of the seventh on Andersen's sacrifice fly, but it wasn't enough as NDSU took the weekend opener.

Hope (0-7) earned the start for the day's finale and limited the Bison over six complete, scattering six hits with three runs allowed and a strikeout.

Murphy was 2-for-2 in the game with her fourth home run of the season. Ali Herdliska singled for SDSU's other hit in the game.

Game 2 saw NDSU jump out to a 2-0 lead in the first once again before Murphy's solo shot to start the third pulled the Jacks within one (2-1).

The Bison aimed to extend their lead with one-out runners in the second, third and fourth innings, but SDSU's defense stepped up and ended all three frames with double plays.

The standoff continued until the sixth, when the Bison used a solo home run to go ahead 3-1.

Down to its last chance, the Jacks threatened behind Herdliska's one-out single in the seventh, but couldn't complete the comeback.

Up Next

South Dakota State wraps up regular season play with a three-game set at home next weekend, May 6-7, against Western Illinois.