OMAHA, Neb. – South Dakota State opened league play with a doubleheader against Omaha on Friday, winning Game 1, 4-1, and Game 2, 8-1.

The Jacks are now 23-7 overall and 2-0 to start conference play.

Game 1

• South Dakota State 4, Omaha 1

Kendra Conard (8-0) tossed a complete game on 113 pitches to earn the win, giving up one earned run on four walks and two hits while striking out a pair.

SDSU loaded the bases in the second, but were unable to break through until the third, when Ali Herdliska’s seventh home run of the season followed Julia Andersen’s leadoff double to make it 2-0.

Omaha got one back in the bottom of the fourth to make it 2-1, using a pair of singles and two wild pitches.

A pair of walks led to an RBI single from Yanney Ponce to make it 3-1 in the top of the fifth and reclaim a two run lead. The Jacks added another run in the sixth with an Anderson single and a fielding error to go up 4-1.

Conard got into a jam in the bottom of the seventh with runners at first and third, but struck out the final batter to seal the victory.

Game 2

• South Dakota State 8, Omaha 1

Morgan DeMarais (6-2) earned the victory behind seven innings of one-run ball. The freshman scattered nine hits and fanned five.

Eleven Jacks reached base in the contest, including Ponce who finished 3-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored.

The Jacks left the bases loaded with one out in the second, but couldn’t push a run across. In the bottom half of the inning, Ponce threw out a runner trying to score on a ground ball, preventing a run to keep the score even at 0-0.

Lyndsey Crist opened the scoring with a two-out triple in the third to drive in Herdliska who extended the inning with a walk the previous at-bat, giving the Jacks a 1-0 lead.

SDSU added three more runs in the fourth with RBI doubles from Baily Janssen and Anderson to extend the lead to 4-0.

In the sixth, Omaha got on the board with a solo home run. The Jacks answered back in the seventh with two-run doubles from Ponce and Allison Beaudry to push the lead to 8-1.

Omaha threatened with the bases loaded in the ninth but DeMarais made it through unscathed to end the game.

Game Notes – SDSU has continued its best start at the Division I level, are one-game off the best start-ever, as the 1996 team went 22-6 through its first 28 games. The Jacks reached the 20-win mark on Saturday, marking the earliest they’ve done it (date-wise) in program history. ... Now with 107 walks, Ali Herdliska is tied for second in Summit League history.

Up Next

The Jackrabbit softball team wraps up the three-game set at Omaha on Saturday. First pitch from Westgate Field is set for 11 a.m.