BROOKINGS – South Dakota State swept Creighton in a softball doubleheader Tuesday at Jackrabbit Stadium, winning 1-0 and 8-7 in eight innings.
SDSU (31-12) returns to Summit League action with a three-game set at North Dakota, facing off in a doubleheader Saturday at noon followed by a single game Sunday at 11 a.m. in Grand Forks. The Jackrabbits currently sit in third place in the conference standings at 8-4.
• SDSU 1, Creighton 0
Kendra Conard outdueled Kiele Miller in the circle and Yanney Ponce came through with a clutch hit late to lift the Jackrabbits.
Conard (12-2) tossed a five-hitter, striking out six batters and walking two.
Miller allowed one run on three hits with four strikeouts.
Peyton Daugherty singled up with middle with one away in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ponce came up next and a drove the first pitch she saw to right field for a double, plating Daugherty.
The Bluejays loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh after Kiara Mills singled, Kelli Finan reached on a fielding error and Nikki McNeil was hit by a pitch. However, Conard struck out Ashley Cantu looking and then got Jayci Foster to ground out to third to end it.
Baily Janssen tallied SDSU’s other hit. Mills was 3-for-3 for Creighton.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 1, CREIGHTON 0
Creighton 000 000 0 – 0 5 0
South Dakota State 000 001 x – 1 3 1
Kiele Miller and Mikaela Pechar; Kendra Conard and Mallory McQuistan. W – Conard (12-2). L – Miller (6-4). 2B: SDSU, Yanney Ponce.
• SDSU 8, Creighton 7 (8 inn.)
Ali Herliska belted a 1-2 pitch over the fence in left field with one out in the eighth, as the Jackrabbits completed the sweep.
The walkoff shot marked the school-record 44th home run of Herdliska’s career, including 12th this season.
SDSU put up a four-spot on six hits in the opening frame.
Daugherty and Ponce singled and later scored on Julia Andersen’s double with two outs. Lyndsey Crist added an RBI single and, after Mallory McQuistan recorded a hit, Baily Janssen drove in a run with a double to make it 4-0.
The Bluejays found the scoreboard for the first time in the twinbill in the fifth.
Finan led off with a single and pinch-hitter Kailey Wilson connected for a two-run homer, chasing SDSU starter Morgan DeMarais. Cantu singled with two away and stole second, before scoring on Foster’s hit to cut the deficit to 4-3.
SDSU answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Crist drew a base on balls with one out and McQuistan singled. Janssen came through with a two-run single up the middle with two away. Erin Mullen’s pinch-hit RBI single put the home team ahead 7-3.
Creighton put together a two-out rally in the sixth behind back-to-back doubles from Finan and Wilson. Pinch-hitter Mileah McKelvy added an RBI hit to pull the visitors within 7-5.
Cantu singled to open the seventh. Mills’ two-run homer to center with one out knotted things up at 7-all.
Daugherty, who doubled, Ponce, McQuistan and Janssen each finished with two hits for the Jackrabbits.
Taylor Compton (8-4) earned the win in relief, allowing two runs on four hits with three strikeouts over the final 2 1/3 innings.
DeMarais gave up two runs on three hits with a pair of Ks in four-plus innings. Emma Hardin surrendered three runs on five hits and a walk with one strikeout in 1 2/3 innings.
For Creighton, Finan ended up 3-for-4. Wilson, who had three RBIs, and Cantu both added two hits.
Logan Black was the losing pitcher after giving up four runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and two walks over the final 6 2/3. Starter Laura Roecker lasted just two-thirds of an inning.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 8, CREIGHTON 7 (8 inn.)
Creighton 000 032 20 – 7 12 3
South Dakota State 400 030 01 – 8 13 0
Laura Roecker, Logan Black (1) and Mikaela Pechar; Morgan DeMarais, Emma Hardin (5), Taylor Compton (6) and Mallory McQuistan. W – Compton (8-4). L – Black 3-8. 2B: CU, Kelli Finan, Kailey Wilson; SDSU, Peyton Daugherty, Julia Andersen, Baily Janssen. HR: CU, Kiara Mills, Wilson; SDSU, Ali Herdliska.
