KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The South Dakota State softball team completed two drastically different games versus Kansas City on Friday, March 28, but came out on top in both in a Summit League doubleheader. The Jackrabbits began the day with a 15-0 run-rule victory, then notched a 2-1 extra-innings win at the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy field.
Game One
The Jacks scored four runs in the fourth and another eight in the sixth innings on their way to a 15-0 triumph over the Roos.
South Dakota State produced a season-high 16 hits en route to the Jackrabbits’ most runs in a single game during the 2025 slate. Eight different Jackrabbits accounted for hits, including three-hit performances by Brooke Dumont and Emma Vike. Five players had multiple RBIs in Vike (3), Dumont (2), Mia Jarecki (2), Abby Gentry (2) and Emma Christensen (2).
Sophomore Akayla Barnard was stellar in the circle. SDSU’s starting pitcher allowed four hits across six innings. She struck out five batters and walked four. Barnard improved to 5-3 as she threw her third complete game of the season and the first shutout of her college career.
Game Two
SDSU narrowly got by Kansas City in the second game of the series as the Jackrabbits earned the 2-1 victory in eight innings.
The Roos got on the board first in the third inning. Kansas City took advantage of two hits, a hit by pitch and a walk to go ahead 1-0. SDSU got out of a bases-loaded jam with a ground out.
Brooke Dumont led the fourth frame off with a walk. Cece Hanson pinch ran for Dumont and advanced to third following a wild pitch and Gentry single. She would be plated on a ground out that turned into a double play, tying the score at 1-1.
The Jacks got a runner to third in consecutive innings, but couldn’t find a way to score the game-winning run before extra innings were needed.
The top of the eighth saw Dumont garner a walk with one out. She advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a Gentry single. Alli Boyle produced an RBI ground out to score Dumont and make it a 2-1 ballgame.
Amanda Vacanti came on in relief in the fifth inning for the Jackrabbits. She put together four solid innings in the circle for SDSU. Vacanti didn’t allow a hit during the stretch, while giving up three walks, and kept the Roos off the board. She recorded nine consecutive outs to close out the game and pick up her second victory of the season.
Gentry and Vike led the Jacks at the plate with two hits apiece. SDSU starter Tayler Baker pitched three innings and didn’t allow a run. She gave up two hits to go along with four walks and three strikeouts.
Kansas City’s Hannah Burks had a strong effort but picked up the loss. She pitched all eight innings for the Roos allowing two earned runs on eight hits.
NOTES
- The Jackrabbits are 17-17 overall on the season and picked up their first two wins of conference play.
- Vike went 5-for-7 (.714) at the plate and had three RBIs in the first two games of the series for SDSU. She was followed by Gentry and Dumont who each had four hits combined.
- South Dakota State has now won 12 straight games over Kansas City in the two teams’ all-time series.
UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits and Roos are scheduled to play a series finale on Saturday. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m.