Neither game was terribly pretty but SDSU managed a split against the Thunderbirds.

Assistant Sports Editor

 

If SDSU is looking to put it all together, they still have some work to do.

 

Taking a game from one of the top teams in the Summit League is a start.

After dropping game one to Southern Utah, 11-3, the Jackrabbits pulled out a late victory over the Thunderbirds in game two, 2-1 on Apr. 8 and earning a key sweep in conference play.

The Jacks’ pinch-hitter Greta Stroh knocked in pinch-runner Pam Nicholson with one out in the seventh inning to tie the game at 1-1. After Allison Huffman singled and Stroh moved to second base, Devon Reick bounced back to SUU pitcher Heather Black. Black fielded the ball but threw errantly to first, allowing Stroh to round third and score on a close play at home.

“Pinch hitting is just a job you’re expected to do. I couldn’t really think about too much and I just had to get up there and hit the ball,” Stroh said. “It’s really excited and hopefully we can keep it going.”

Until seventh inning, SDSU hadn’t generated much offense, with just two hits and only advancing one runner as far as second base. Starting pitcher Kori Seidlitz battled inconsistency all day, walking eight but she was able to strand 12 SUU runners on base. SDSU’s win broke a six-game losing streak and gave the Jackrabbits a much needed lift.

“I was really focusing on just throwing to my abilities because I’ve been struggling lately. My big thing was trying to not let the little things get to me and it really worked out for me. It’s all between the ears,” Seidlitz said.

“I think this is just a small glimpse of what our team is capable of. Our players fight and they want to win and part of it is trying to learn how. I think that this is a big key for us,” said SDSU head coach Joanna Lane.

The Jacks’ were not as lucky in game one, succumbing to four errors and dropping the game, 11-3. Southern Utah scored three times in both of the first two innings and quickly constructing a 6-0 lead.

SDSU would get three of those runs back in the third inning when Reick, Emily Weber and Ashley Durazo came around to score, but the Jacks would not draw any closer, with Southern Utah scoring one in the fourth and two in the sixth and seventh innings

The T-Bird’s top four hitters combined to go 9-17, with five RBI and seven runs scored.

Emily Weber lead the Jacks with a 4-4 showing at the plate, a run scored and a RBI with Krista Honken going 2-3.

Pam Nicholson took the loss, giving up 12 hits in six innings but the head coach didn’t feel she should shoulder the blame.

“It was tough because we had so many errors and we’ve talked about putting together a complete game all year and we’ve struggled. Pam did a good job of not letting it get to her because teams do pick up a lot of hits off of her. We know as an offense that we have to score runs and that’s how this game works, you’ve got to score to win.”