Jacks open weekend with softball split

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. –  South Dakota State opened its stay at the Razorback Invitational Friday with a 5-2 win over Montana, then dropped a 13-3 contest to No. 23 Arkansas. The Jackrabbits are 5-6 on the season.

 South Dakota State 5, Montana 2

Grace Glanzer (4-2) pitched her fifth complete game of the season, allowing two runs on four hits. Glanzer struck out seven and walked just one.

Cylie Halvorson launched her first home run of the campaign in three-run fashion, while Kelsey Lenox was 1-for-2 with a solo home run. Peyton Daugherty (triple) and Allison Yoder each had two hits for the Jackrabbit offense, as South Dakota State put runners on in six of seven innings.

The Grizzlies struck first with a three-hit, one-run opening frame, but the Jackrabbits buckled down from there and faced four over the minimum in the final six innings.

The Jacks drew even with a two-out rally in the fourth, then pulled away for good with back-to-back home runs in the fifth.

Caelyn Christiancy reached with a five-pitch to set up the fourth-frame scoring opportunity, and Gerdes brought her in with an RBI double to left center, moving the Jacks into a 1-1 tie.

Peyton Daugherty singled to center with one out in the fifth, and after stealing second saw Olivia Pfeifer reach on a Grizzly error. Halvorson sent a 2-1 pitch over the left-field fence in the next at-bat for a three-run blast, and Lenox followed with a solo shot to make it 5-1.

Montana got one back with a solo home run in the sixth but would come no further as the Jacks opened the weekend with a win.

 No. 23 Arkansas 13, South Dakota State 3

Kendra Conard (1-3) started and took the loss, allowing four runs before Emma Hardin entered in relief. Hardin pitched into the third and allowed four runs as well, while Morgan DeMarais pitched the final 1.1 innings and saw three Razorbacks score. DeMarais struck out three.

Lindsey Culver was 2-for-2 with a home run, while Christiancy had a pair of RBIs and tallied her third two-bagger of the season. Mia Elliot had a double as well.

The Jackrabbits raced out to a 2-0 lead in the first behind Elliott and Christiancy doubles, as Christiancy’s hit brought both Elliott and Lenox (walk) home. The Razorbacks struck back immediately, however, and put up a four-spot in the bottom of the inning thanks to a three-run home run and two-out RBI single.

Trailing 4-2, Culver brought the Jackrabbits within one as she took the first pitch she saw in the second over the center field fence.

Arkansas pulled away for good in the middle innings, however, scoring six runs in the third and another three in the fourth.

South Dakota State is  2-1 against Montana and 0-1 against Arkansas. Cylie Halvorson has at least one hit in eight of her first 11 collegiate games. The Jackrabbits combined for three home runs on the day and have hit seven as a team in 2020.

Up Next

South Dakota State faces Boston University (10 a.m.) and Marist College (4:45 p.m.) on day two of the Razorback Invitational Saturday.