KNIESCHE, OSMUNDSON HIGHLIGHT SPLIT IN FRESNO

Friday, February 9

Fresno, Calif.

4 p.m.

South Dakota State University

2-0

Santa Clara

0-1

Santa Clara

South Dakota State

Tori Kniesche

Photo by: Josh Gateley

2/9/2024 9:57:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Pedersen

FRESNO, Calif. — Runs were at a premium in a pair of games for the South Dakota State softball team on Friday which led to a split for the Jackrabbits at the Fresno State Kickoff Classic. SDSU earned a 1-0 victory over Santa Clara to begin the day, then fell to the host Bulldogs 3-2 in extra innings at Margie Wright Diamond.

A day after South Dakota State recorded 20 runs on 15 hits in the squad's season opener, the Jackrabbits were held to just six combined base hits in the two-game span.

Game one was a pitcher's duel between SDSU's Tori Kniesche and Santa Clara's Hazyl Gray.

The lone run of the meeting came in the bottom of the third. SDSU's Akayla Barnard drew a two-out walk bringing Emma Osmundson to the plate. The senior outfielder drilled a double to the right-center field fence and brought Barnard all the way home for the lone run scored.

Osmundson added a single to her stat line as she was the only Jackrabbit to produce a hit off Gray. She also had a walk along with teammates Alexa Williams and Lindsey Culver.

Kniesche struck out the first three batters she faced and went through the Bronco order with ease. The Santa Clara lineup earned a walk in the second and recorded a single in the fourth, but Kniesche handled the Broncos beyond that. Santa Clara wasn't able to get a runner to second base in the contest on Friday.

The Jackrabbit starting pitcher improved to 2-0 on the season. Kniesche threw a complete game giving up just one hit and one walk while striking out 13 Broncos.

The second game saw Fresno State jump out early. The Bulldogs' Keahilele Matson hit an RBI double in the first and followed it with an RBI single in the third to give the host's a 2-0 advantage through three innings.

SDSU starter Shannon Lasey worked around damage and kept the Jackrabbits in the game. She pitched five innings and allowed two runs on five hits and four walks to go along with four strikeouts.

The Jackrabbits trailed 2-0 heading into the top of the seventh and battled to keep the matchup alive. Brooke Dumont hit a one-out double, then pinch runner Emma Christensen advanced to third on a groundout. With two outs, Mia Jarecki hit an RBI triple down the left-field line to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Fresno State starter Serayah Neiss went 6 2/3 innings and gave up four hits when the Bulldogs went to the bullpen. Paige Gilmore came in for relief and faced Osmundson who hit a ball in the infield. The Bulldog shortstop field the ball but her ensuing throw went over the first baseman's head, allowing SDSU's Christensen to score and tie the game at 2-2.

The Jacks wound up with runners on second and third, but Gilmore got out of the threat by striking out Rozelyn Carrillo.

SDSU reliever Alexa Williams pitched scoreless sixth and seventh innings, however Fresno State put together a two-out rally in the eighth inning. With nobody on base, Sophia Medellin hit a double and was followed by Juliana Wilson who connected on an RBI single to end the contest in extras.

The Jackrabbits produced four combined hits in the loss to Fresno State with one apiece by Osmundson, Dumont, Jarecki and Lindsey Culver. Williams took the loss in her first appearance of the season in the circle. She pitched 2 2/3 innings giving up a run on two hits. Williams struck out two batters.

Notes

South Dakota stands at 2-1 overall this season.
With the victory over Santa Clara, South Dakota State head coach Kristina McSweeney earned her 400th victory coaching at the NCAA level. She's in the midst of her 12th season coaching college softball.

Up Next
South Dakota State closes out play at the Fresno State Kickoff Classic on Saturday. The Jackrabbits face Santa Clara at 11 a.m. and take on CSU Bakersfield at approximately 1:30 p.m.

-GoJacks.com-