The South Dakota State softball team recorded a pair of wins by scoring double-digit runs as the Jackrabbits defeated Saint Louis and Northern Illinois by 10-1 and 15-6 scores, respectively at the Billiken Sports Center on Tuesday. SDSU has now won seven of its last eight games.
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ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The South Dakota State softball team recorded a pair of wins by scoring double-digit runs as the Jackrabbits defeated Saint Louis and Northern Illinois by 10-1 and 15-6 scores, respectively, at the Billiken Sports Center on Tuesday. SDSU has now won seven of its last eight games.
South Dakota State used a five-run fifth inning to break the game open and closed out a 10-1 win over Saint Louis in five innings.
The Jackrabbits and Billikens were scoreless through three innings of action. SDSU’s best opportunity came in the first after a Mia Jarecki leadoff double, but the Jacks left runners on second and third base in the inning.
The top of the fourth inning saw South Dakota State begin with singles by Abby Gentry and Alli Boyle. The Jacks got the first two runs of the game on RBI singles by Emma Vike and Amanda Vacanti.
SDSU starting pitcher Tayler Baker cruised through her first four innings in the circle. She didn’t allow a hit through her first 3 2/3 innings and kept the Billikens off the board.
The fifth inning featured three Jackrabbit home runs. Jarecki led the frame off with a lead-off solo homer. Akayla Barnard followed her with a single and Brooke Dumont drew a walk. That brought Abby Gentry to the plate and she hit a three-run home run to give the Jackrabbits a 5-0 edge.
The inning continued as three Jackrabbits garnered walks. It brought Jarecki back to the plate. The senior second baseman launched a two-out grand slam to put the Jackrabbits on top, 10-0.
Two singles and a walk led to the Billikens getting on the board and chased Baker from the contest. The Jackrabbits went to reliever Madi Mangulis who shut the door on the Billikens by registering three consecutive outs.
Baker improved to 3-3 on the season. She pitched four-plus innings allowing one run on three hits. Baker struck out six batters and walked three. Jarecki was 3-for-4 to lead the Jackrabbit lineup. She had five RBIs and two runs scored. Gentry recorded two hits, three RBIs and two runs scored.
The Jackrabbits scored the first seven runs of the game and held off the Huskies for a 7-4 victory.
SDSU produced nine of hits in the opening three innings as the Jacks pushed out to a 7-0 advantage. Baker, who started again in the circle for the Jackrabbits, allowed just one hit in the first two innings she worked. She allowed a run in the third, but kept the Billikens off the board in the fourth.
She made way for Mangulis in the fifth. Northern Illinois began to rally as the Huskies scored four runs on four hits and an error over the next two frames to make it a 7-4 ball game. Mangulis was able to escape a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the sixth by forcing a fly out.
The Jackrabbits were able to extend their lead in the seventh. Madi Conklin hit an RBI single, Lila McNeill drove in a run on a sacrifice fly, Barnard hit a grand slam, while Vike hit a two-run double to push SDSU ahead 13-4.
Kierra Goos came in for the seventh and pitched the final inning in relief for the Jacks. Five different Jackrabbits recorded hits as SDSU recorded a season-high run total.
Jarecki had a team-high three runs scored and Barnard had five RBIs.
South Dakota State improved to 12-13 overall on the season with Tuesday’s pair of wins.
The Jackrabbits travel to Columbia, Mo., to participate in the Mizzou Invitational. SDSU begins its appearance on the Missouri campus on Thursday with a noon game against Princeton and 2:30 p.m. clash versus the host Tigers.
