After losing 11 in a row, South Dakota State softball picked up a win to conclude the Shocker Invitational in Wichita, Kansas.
Game 1 – Oklahoma State
A rematch with the Cowgirls fared slightly better for the Jacks but still ended in a 3-2 loss. Emma Vike opened the scoring with a two-RBI single in the second inning, but the Cowgirls immediately responded at their next at-bat with a home run. They scored again in the fifth with an RBI double and in the sixth with another homer.
Amanda Vacanti pitched 5.1 innings, giving up seven hits.
Game 2 – Nebraska
The Cornhuskers took a 4-0 lead in the fifth inning, but the Jacks tied the game at their next at-bat with an RBI single and a 3 RBI double, and eventually took the lead the next inning off an Akayla Barnard homer. It looked like a Jackrabbit victory would finally happen, but the Cornhuskers tied the game to force extra innings and eventually won 8-5 in eight innings.
Madi Mangulis and Tayler Becker were on the mound for much of the game, striking out a combined three batters but allowing a combined 12 hits and seven of the eight runs.
Game 3 – Missouri
The Tigers blew out the Jacks in game 3 of the Invitational. Mizzou hit four homers and two runs walked in in the 10-1 blowout.
SDSU had four pitchers on the mound with Vacanti getting the start. She pitched 2.2 innings, striking out a pair of batters but allowing five earned runs and three walks.
Games 4 & 5 – Wichita State
Two games over the weekend with the Shockers would conclude SDSU’s participation in the Shocker Invitational. The first game on Saturday saw the Jacks come close to winning, tying the game in the seventh inning with a Brooke Dumont homer, but the Shockers had a walk-off RBI double by junior outfielder Jodie Epperson.
The second game on Sunday saw the Jacks build up a 5-0 lead by the third inning. The Shockers got on the board at their next at-bat, but Dumont sailed one out of the park the next inning. The Shockers scored three more runs with two in the seventh inning, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit, giving SDSU a 6-4 victory and their first since Feb. 14.
“[It’s] hard to even put into words how great [Brooke Dumont] has been,” head coach Kristina McSweeney said. “She’s just a calm presence in our lineup, she doesn’t make the moments too big she’s been focusing on the things that need to be successful.” Dumont has a .438 batting average this season with a team-high six home runs.
SDSU moves to 6-12 on the season. The Jacks will play in the Big Red Spring Fling in Lincoln, Nebraska this weekend with games against Nebraska, Northern Colorado and Northern Iowa scheduled.
