OMAHA, Neb.—South Dakota and South Dakota State split the first two games of a three-game set Thursday at Skutt Catholic High School. Abbey Murphy had three hits including a go-ahead RBI double in leading South Dakota State to a 5-4 victory in the opener. Dusty Durham tossed a four-hit shutout while going 3-for-4 at the plate in a 7-0 South Dakota win in the nightcap.
The series shifts to Westside Field at Westbrook Friday for game three. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.
South Dakota State 5, South Dakota 4
South Dakota got two game-tying, two-run home runs from shortstop
Lauren Eamiguel, but competed without three of its top hitters and couldn't score enough to get past the Jackrabbits. Murphy doubled and scored in the first, singled and scored in the third, and broke a 4-4 tie in the fourth with an RBI double.
Eamiguel's home runs in the second and fourth were her third and fourth round trippers of the season. The Coyotes loaded the bases against SDSU ace Madison Hope in the fifth, and had the tying run on third in the seventh, but couldn't push the tying run across. Hope (13-4) allowed eight hits, struck out eight and walked three in her complete-game effort.
South Dakota 7, South Dakota State 0
Durham, the first pitcher to shutout the Jacks this season, faced 18 consecutive batters without surrendering a hit spanning the second and seventh innings. She didn't have any strikeouts, but didn't walk anyone either and didn't give up anything greater than a single. She also drove in a run in the first and third innings in helping stake the Coyotes to a 4-0 lead. She finished 3-for-4 including her seventh double of the season.
Coyote catcher
Jessica Rogers, who didn't start game one but pinch hit late and drew a walk, was 3-for-3 with a walk in game two. She singled and scored as part of a three-run first inning and doubled and scored in the fifth to extend the lead to 6-0.
Taylor Steinfeldt capped the scoring with an RBI double in the sixth.
South Dakota outhit SDSU 21-14. Durham and game one reliever
Alexis Devers combined for 10 consecutive scoreless innings and allowed five hits – all singles.