April 24, 2018

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – NCAA Division I South Dakota State used two big innings of offensive explosion Tuesday at Bowden Field, rolling past Dakota State (S.D.) in a non-conference softball doubleheader sweep.  The Jackrabbits won by the scores of 12-1 in five innings and 18-8 in six innings.

Dakota State dropped their overall record to 18-25.  South Dakota State raised their overall record to 29-12.

The Trojans close out their regular-season schedule this weekend at Thue Softball Complex in downtown Madison.  DSU will be hosting the North Star conference triangular with No. 16-ranked Jamestown (N.D.) and Viterbo (Wis.). 

Dakota State will host Jamestown in a doubleheader on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m.  Viterbo is scheduled to battle with Jamestown in a doubleheader on Saturday at 12 p.m.  The Trojans play the V-Hawks as part of Senior Day on Sunday with the doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.

Game 1 – South Dakota State 12, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL/5 innings

South Dakota State poured in a total of ten runs in the first two innings, scoring six runs in the first inning and four runs in the second inning.

Dakota State scored a run in the top third inning to cut SDSU's lead to 10-1.  Tatum Ronke reached safely on base caused by SDSU's defensive error.  Reanna Fitzgerald drilled an RBI double to score Ronke for DSU's first run of the game.

Megan Rushing hit a 2-run home run in the bottom fourth inning to balloon SDSU's lead to 12-1.

The Trojans left two runners on base when the game ended, securing the victory for the Jackrabbits.

Fitzgerald paced DSU with a double, walk and an RBI.  Kailee McFadden added two singles. 

South Dakota State hit two home runs in the game (Lyndsey Crist and Rushing) and five doubles (two by Baily Janssen and one double each by Rushing, Julia Andersen and Brittney Morse).  Rushing led the team with three RBIs.  Mallory McQuistan and Janssen each added two RBIs.

SDSU outhit DSU 13-3 in the game. 

Kelly Drake (L, 4-9) recorded the loss as she tossed the first 1 2/3 innings for Dakota State.  She gave up eight runs on seven hits.  Stefani Gollin worked for 2 1/3 innings in relief, allowing four runs on six hits.

Madison Hope (W, 17-5) earned the victory after pitching three innings for South Dakota State.  She limited the Trojans to one unearned run on two hits.  Olivia Douglas tossed two scoreless innings in relief, giving up one hit and one walk.

Game 2 – South Dakota State 18, Dakota State (S.D.) 8 – FINAL/6 innings

Dakota State led 8-5 after four innings in the second game of the doubleheader, but South Dakota State exploded for a total of 13 runs in the fifth and sixth innings to earn a sweep.

After a scoreless first inning, Dakota State grabbed the first lead of the game after plating three runs in the top second.  Jasmin Lucero blasted a solo home run to left-center to give DSU a 1-0 lead.  It was her third home run this season, her eighth career home run at DSU.

Audrey Kosman reached safely on base after a defensive error by SDSU in the top second.  Taylor Poe smashed a 2-run home run to extend Trojans' lead to 3-0.

The Jackrabbits scored once in the bottom half of the second inning.  Dana Chavez reached on base by a walk.  Janssen followed up with a single to advance Chavez to third base.  Yanney Ponce hit a two-out RBI single to score Chavez as SDSU cut DSU's lead to 3-1.

SDSU scored four times in the bottom third, highlighted by Rushing's 2-RBI double to earn a 5-3 lead over DSU.

Dakota State answered with five runs, all runs with two outs in the top fourth inning.  Kosman reached on base by a fielder's choice after Lucero was forced out at second base after hitting a single with one out.  Poe followed up with a single and advanced Kosman to third base.  Ronke hit an RBI single to score Kosman as the Trojans trailed 5-4.

DSU continued its scoring run as they regained their lead at 6-5 after Fitzgerald's 2-RBI double to score Ronke and Poe.  After a pitching change by the Jackrabbits, McFadden reached on base by a walk.  Krapf added a single to set up a bases loaded situation for the Trojans.

Dakota State made it 8-5 after Brokiewicz hit a 2-RBI single to score McFadden and Fitzgerald in the top fourth.

SDSU stormed back in the bottom fifth after hitting three home runs and three doubles to produce a total of eight runs.  The Jackrabbits led 13-8 by the end of the fifth inning.

South Dakota State continued their offensive explosion with five runs in the bottom sixth frame, ending the game by Andersen's 3-run home run.

Poe went 2-of-3 at the plate with a home run, single and drove in two runs for Dakota State.  Fitzgerald added a double and two RBIs.  Brokiewicz tallied a single and two RBIs.  Lucero had two singles and an RBI.  Ronke had a hit and an RBI.  McFadden reached on base by a walk.

South Dakota State registered four home runs and four doubles in the game.  Morse had two home runs and collected three RBIs.  McQuistan added a home run, single and two RBIs.  Rushing had two doubles and four RBIs.  Ponce recorded two hits and three RBIs.  Anderson hit a home run, double, single and three RBIs.  Janssen had three hits.

SDSU registered 16 hits in the game compared to DSU eight hits.

Xitlali Lopez (L, 8-7) recorded the loss in the pitching circle for Dakota State.  She pitched five-plus innings and gave up 13 runs (2 unearned) on 12 hits.  Kosman faced five batters in the bottom sixth in relief.

Taylor Compton started the game for South Dakota State, working for 3 2/3 innings.  She allowed seven runs (one unearned) on six hits.  Kendra Conard (W, 4-0) earned the victory in relief, tossing 2 1/3 innings.  She yielded one run on two hits.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director