NO HITTER HIGHLIGHTS UNBEATEN DAY FOR JACKS

Saturday, February 11

Huntsville, Texas

3 p.m.

South Dakota State University

2-1

UTSA

0-5

South Dakota State

UTSA

Photo by: Erik Williams

2/11/2023 11:08:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Pedersen

HUNTSVILLE, Texas – South Dakota State pitcher Tori Kniesche threw a no-hitter in the Jackrabbits' finale on Saturday to complete an undefeated day for the SDSU softball team. The Jackrabbits opened the two-game span by hanging on for a 3-2 victory over UTSA, then topped Sam Houston 2-0 in the night cap at the Bearkat Softball Complex.

Game 1 (vs. UTSA)
South Dakota State took advantage of a strong Jackrabbit debut from pitcher Shannon Lasey en route to a 3-2 win.

The Jackrabbits took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Mia Jarecki led the game off with a triple and went on to cross home on an RBI ground out by Brooke Dumont. The Jackrabbits had runners on third and first base but were left stranded.

SDSU extended its advantage to 2-0 in the second on a solo home run by Tori Tollefson. The Jacks made it a 3-0 game in the fourth inning. Lindsey Culver walked to open the frame, then Tollefson advanced her into scoring position with a single. An error on Jocelyn Carrillo's at-bat by the Roadrunners scored Culver from second.

Lasey kept the UTSA lineup off the board despite the Roadrunners putting baserunners on each inning the SDSU newcomer was in the circle. Lasey pitched four innings and allowed three hits, walked two and hit a batter, but struck out four hitters and didn't allow a run.

SDSU's lineup was held in check the rest of the way while the Jackrabbits turned to pitcher Grace Glanzer for the final three innings. UTSA scored two runs on three hits in the sixth to make it a 3-2 contest heading into the final inning. A throwing error and walk provided two baserunners for the Roadrunners in the bottom of the seventh, however Glanzer forced consecutive fielder's choice outs to close out a victory for South Dakota State.

Glanzer earned her first save of the season for the Jacks, while Lasey picked up her first win as a Jackrabbit. Tollefson led SDSU with two hits in the opening game of the day.

Game 2 (vs. Sam Houston)
The Jackrabbits did enough offensively to give Kniesche enough breathing room as the SDSU starting pitcher picked up the sixth no-hitter of her college career against the host Bearkats.

The game featured a pitcher's duel as Sam Houston starter Bailey Wasik gave up just two hits in five-plus innings of work. The Jackrabbit lineup found the scoreboard in the sixth inning as Brooke Dumont got the frame started with a walk. The Bearkats went to their bullpen and Cheyanne Masterson kept the offense going with a single. An Allison Yoder ground out moved both of SDSU's runners into scoring position. A Lindsey Culver sacrifice fly scored pinch runner Emma Christensen to give the Jackrabbits a 1-0 edge.

SDSU picked up another run as Jarecki led the seventh off with a solo home run. Her blast gave the Jackrabbits a 2-0 lead.

Kniesche pitched a perfect opening four innings before giving up a walk to the Bearkats in the fifth inning. Sam Houston followed up the leadoff walk with a popup and strikeout, then had its runner thrown out caught stealing by catcher Allison Yoder to end the inning.

The sixth saw Sam Houston again get a base runner on due to a hit by pitch, but nothing came of it as with two outs another infield popup sent the game to the seventh inning.

SDSU's starting pitcher eventually completed the no-hitter by facing just one batter over the minimum. A strikeout, fly out and ground out in the seventh closed out one of Kniesche's best showings as a Jackrabbit in the circle. The Jackrabbit finished the game giving up a walk and hit by pitch while striking out nine hitters.

Notes

The Jackrabbits improved to 3-1 overall on the season with both victories on Saturday.
Tollefson has a team-best .571 batting average after three games played for SDSU. Masterson has played in all four games for the Jackrabbits and is hitting .500. Kniesche is maintaining a 0.00 earned-run average after her three-hit shutout against Nebraska on Friday.

Up Next
South Dakota State closes out play in Huntsville, Texas, on Sunday when the Jackrabbits take on Northwestern State at 10 a.m.

-GoJacks.com-