OMAHA, Neb. — South Dakota State bounced back from a 2-0 defeat to Omaha on Friday to earn a split with the Mavericks in the second game by a 6-4 score in a doubleheader at Connie Claussen Field. The win by the Jackrabbits clinched SDSU’s fourth consecutive Summit League softball regular season title while also assuring the Jacks the No. 1 seed in next week’s Summit League Softball Championship being held in Brookings.
Game One
The Mavericks did just enough at the plate, to go along with a commanding performance in the circle by starter Kameryn Meyer, to earn a 2-0 win over the Jackrabbits. The win put an end to SDSU’s undefeated stretch in Summit League play in 2024 as well as snapped the Jackrabbit program’s 46-game winning streak in conference action during the regular season.
Neither team could get momentum against the game one starters as Meyer and SDSU’s Tori Kniesche kept things in check through two innings.
The Jackrabbits’ best opportunity came in the top of the third. Madi Conklin drew a walk, Cheyanne Masterson was hit by a pitch and Mia Jareck walked to load the bases with one out. However, Meyer was able to get a strikeout and groundout to end the threat.
The Mavericks had a chance in the third by getting a walk and two hit by pitches to also load the bases. Kniesche got out of the jam with a strikeout to keep the meeting scoreless through three innings.
SDSU’s Jocelyn Carrillo picked up the Jacks’ first hit in the fourth, but she’d be left stranded. Omaha finally struck in the bottom of the frame. After loading the bases via three walks drawn, a two-run single by Lynsey Tucker put the Mavs ahead 2-0.
The Jacks wouldn’t be able to put anything together at the plate to pose a threat over the final three innings. Rozelyn Carrillo produced a two-out single in the sixth, but she’d be left on base.
Meyer pitched a complete-game shutout for the Mavs. She improved to 22-3 on the season as she struck out six batters, walked two and gave up two hits. Kniesche fell to 15-6 as she threw four innings. The Jackrabbit starter struck out six, but gave up two runs on two hits and six walks. Alexa Williams came in and threw two shutout innings for SDSU.
Game Two
South Dakota State rallied from a two-run deficit to overcome the Mavericks to cap the doubleheader with a 6-4 victory.
The Jackrabbits struck first in the second inning. Alli Boyle hit a two-run single to put SDSU into the lead at 2-0. The Mavs responded by picking up a run on an RBI double against Jackrabbit starter Shannon Lasey to make it 2-1 through two innings.
The score remained heading into the bottom of the fourth. Omaha used three hits and two walks to jump ahead of SDSU by a 4-2 margin in the inning. Freshman Akayla Barnard came in to pitch with two outs and retired the lone batter she faced in the frame to send the game to the fifth.
SDSU tied the score at 4-4 quickly in the top half of the frame. Masterson drew a walk, Jarecki singled, and the two advanced to second and third on a wild pitch during Emma Osmundson’s at-bat. Osmundson smacked a two-run double to left-center field to tie the score, then after a two-strikeout inning by Barnard in the circle, the two sides remained square heading to the sixth.
Jocelyn Carrillo and Madi Conklin both drew walks as the two stood on base with two outs in the top of the frame. Jarecki came to the plate and hit a two-run triple down the right-field line to put the Jacks on top, 6-4.
That gave Barnard some breathing room. She allowed just a hit in the sixth and was back in the circle for the seventh. The Mavs led the inning off with a walk, but a flyout had Omaha up with a runner on first base with one out. A line drive straight back to Barnard was ensuingly snagged by the pitcher who threw over to first base for the game-ending double play.
Both teams recorded six hits in the game. Jarecki and Osmundson had two hits apiece for the Jackrabbits while six players scored runs. Barnard improved to 5-2 on the season in her first appearance pitching since March 16. She worked 3 1/3 innings and gave up just one hit. Barnard struck out three batters and walked one.
Notes
- South Dakota State is now 31-19 overall on the season. The Jackrabbits were handed their first conference loss of the season, but with the victory in the second game improved to 14-1 in Summit League play. SDSU clinched the 2024 Summit League regular season title as Omaha now stands with a 13-4 conference record.
- Omaha’s win to begin the doubleheader snapped SDSU’s 17-game overall winning streak. It also ended the Jackrabbits’ 46-game win streak in regular season conference play which had been the longest streak in Division I softball.
- SDSU is set as the No. 1 seed at The Summit League Softball Championship. The Jackrabbits will await to see who they play as the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds are not in place. SDSU will begin the tournament against the winner of that game at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 9, at Jackrabbit Softball Stadium.
Up Next
South Dakota State closes out the regular season with a single game on Sunday. The Jackrabbits and Mavericks meet at 11 a.m. at Omaha’s Connie Claussen Field.