KNIESCHE NO-NO, LASEY EFFORT LEAD TO SWEEP

Sunday, March 10

Kennesaw, Ga.

11 a.m.

South Dakota State University

Kennesaw State (DH)

Mia Jarecki

Photo by: Andy Mead

3/10/2024 5:04:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Pedersen

KENNESAW, Ga. — A strong day in the circle for South Dakota State helped carry the Jackrabbits to a doubleheader sweep over Kennesaw State on Sunday at the Owls' Bailey Park.

Game One
The day began with a stellar performance from starting pitcher Tori Kniesche and a strong performance at the plate by junior Mia Jarecki.

Jarecki, SDSU's second baseman, led game one off with a solo home run to put the Jackrabbits on top 1-0. In the next inning, Jarecki hit a single to advance Cheyanne Masterson to second following a one-out walk. Emma Osmundson hit a single into the outfield, plating Masterson to extend the Jackrabbit edge to 2-0.

Kniesche was dominant from the get-go Sunday. The SDSU senior struck out 10 of the first 12 batters she faced. The fifth inning saw Kennesaw State get two runners on via a hit by pitch and an error, but both runners would be left stranded. Kniesche retired the side behind a three-pitch strikeout.

The Wayne, Neb., native completed 1-2-3 sixth and seventh innings to close out the complete-game, no-hitter outing. It was Kniesche's eighth no-hitter of her college career as she also crossed over the 800-strikeout mark as a Jackrabbit in four years in Yellow and Blue.

Jarecki led the Jacks with a 3-for-4 line hitting along with an RBI and run scored. Brooke Dumont also had two hits as SDSU combined for eight as a team.

Game Two
The standouts changed for the Jackrabbits, but the results were nearly similar in game two as SDSU completed the sweep with a 3-2 victory.

South Dakota State got out to a 3-0 lead through the first three innings of play. Lindsey Culver hit a lead-off double in the second and eventually scored on a passed ball from third base. Masterson and Jarecki would be plated on an RBI double by Culver in the third to extend the Jackrabbit advantage to three runs.

SDSU starter Shannon Lasey kept Kennesaw State hitless through four innings. She allowed a runner to reach third base in the second, but got out of the frame with a strikeout. Lasey then threw 1-2-3 innings in the third and fourth frames.

Two walks and a single in the bottom of the fifth put the Owls on the board to make it 3-1. Consecutive outs in the infield got Lasey and the Jackrabbits out of the inning with no other damage.

Lasey continued her work in the circle as Kennesaw State came up to bat for a final time in the seventh. Following an inning-starting strikeout, a one-out walk scored on an RBI double to make it 3-2. The Owls had the tying run on third with one out as the Jackrabbits went to reliever Alexa Williams.

The senior pitcher came on and closed the door on the home side's rally. Williams registered a strikeout, then got a groundout to pick up her first save of the season and close out a 3-2 win for South Dakota State.

Culver had two hits for the Jackrabbits along with her two RBIs and a run scored. Masterson and Rozelyn Carrillo also had multi-hit efforts at the plate. Lasey threw 6 1/3 innings and struck out a career-high 14 batters, while giving up two hits and six walks.

Notes

South Dakota State improved to 13-14 overall with the doubleheader sweep. Kennesaw State dropped to 6-16 on the season.
Kniesche improved to 7-5 in the circle for the Jackrabbits with her game one win. She now has a 2.78 ERA in 15 appearances. Lasey got a win for SDSU in game two and she stands at a 3-6 record.
Jarecki's home run in game one tied her with Culver for a team-high four during the 2024 season. Culver now has a team-high 25 RBIs this season.

Up Next
South Dakota State continues its travels in the southeast part of the country. The Jackrabbits are slated to face Florida State in Tallahassee in another doubleheader on Tuesday. First pitch between SDSU and the Seminoles is slated for 12 p.m. CT.

-GoJacks.com-