AMES, IOWA – South Dakota State played two close games versus Iowa State on Monday, April 21, but the Cyclones came away with a pair of victories (5-3, 7-6) in the softball doubleheader held at the Cyclone Sports Complex.
Game One
South Dakota State jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but Iowa State scored five consecutive runs before closing out a 5-3 victory.
The Jackrabbits got on the board in the second when Akayla Barnard hit a two-run home run, plating Alli Boyle, to give SDSU a 2-0 edge.
Starting pitcher Sylvia Shromoff thwarted the Cyclone lineup through three innings of work before the Cyclones capitalized in the fourth. Iowa State recorded three hits in the inning and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly and two-run triple to go ahead 3-2.
A two-run home run for the Cyclones in the sixth put the home side ahead 5-2. SDSU got a single by Emma Christensen to lead off the frame and she scored on a two-out double by Mia Jarecki. Iowa State cut the damage off there as the Jackrabbits fell, 5-3.
Shromoff took the loss as she pitched 3 2/3 innings. Hailey Herman threw 2 1/3 innings in relief and allowed two runs. Jarecki and Barnard each had two hits for the Jackrabbits.
Game Two
South Dakota State rallied back from a three-run deficit late in the second game of the doubleheader Monday, but the Cyclones hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh that served as a walk-off finish in the 7-6 win.
The Jackrabbits again took the first lead of the game. This time, Jarecki led the meeting off with a double. She eventually was plated on a one-out RBI single by Brooke Dumont to put SDSU ahead 1-0.
Iowa State responded by taking advantage of five walks in the bottom of the first to take a 3-1 edge heading into the second frame. A two-out walk drawn by Madi Conklin, followed by a single by Kendall Daniel, set up Jarecki who smacked an RBI single to cut the score to 3-2. The third inning saw Dumont blast a solo home run to tie the margin at 3-3.
The Cyclones went back in front in the bottom of the third by beginning the inning with a triple then scoring the run on a sacrifice fly. The score remained the same until the fifth when four Iowa State hits led to two Cyclone runs, making it 6-3.
South Dakota State tied the score at 6-6 in the top of the sixth. Conklin and Daniel hit back-to-back singles to get the Jackrabbits two runners on base. Emma Vike first hit a two-out RBI single, and she was followed by Dumont who singled and recorded two RBIs, to tie the game.
SDSU starter Tayler Baker battled through five innings and came out with the score tied. Reliever Madi Mangulis came in and worked a 1-2-3 sixth frame to bring the game to a decisive seventh inning.
The Jackrabbits went down in order giving way to the Cyclone lineup. Iowa State got its first three hitters on base via walk, single and intentional walk. The Cyclones put a cap to Monday’s action with a deep hit to left-center field that resulted in the walk-off sacrifice fly.
Dumont and Jarecki had three hits apiece for the Jackrabbits. Dumont had a team-high four RBIs, while Jarecki scored two runs. Daniel had a career-high two hits.
SDSU dropped to 24-22 overall on the season. Iowa State improved to 25-19.
UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits return to Summit League play for their next series. SDSU is currently slated for a three-game set against Omaha this upcoming weekend in Brookings at Jerald T. Moriarty Field.