Gerdes, Herdliska homer as Softball takes opener

Friday, April 21

Brookings, S.D.

4:30 p.m.

South Dakota State University

17-28, 4-6

Omaha

11-26, 2-5

Omaha

South Dakota State

Photo by: Jason Salzman

4/21/2017 7:02:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Looking to build on its offensive output from the weekend before, South Dakota State softball picked up where it left off on its way to an 8-4 win over Omaha Friday at Jackrabbit Softball Stadium.

The Jacks (17-28, 4-6 Summit League) won their third straight contest, racking up seven hits with three extra base efforts to take down an Omaha (11-26, 2-5 Summit League) team that had nine hits overall.

Paige Gerdes went 2 for 4 on the day with a grand slam home run and two runs scored. Ali Herdliska drew a pair of walks, scored three runs and added a two-run home run as Julia Andersen tallied a single and a double for her 11th multi-hit game of the season.

Ashlyn Bender (9-10) picked up the win, throwing 6.1 innings with three strikeouts, allowing four runs on eight hits. Madison Hope recorded the final two outs and gave up a hit with a pair of strikeouts.

SDSU took control in the first behind Gerdes' long ball. Andersen and Murphy reached with consecutive one-out singles, and after Herdliska walked to load the bases, a fielder's choice left the bases loaded with two gone. Gerdes stepped to the plate and drove the second pitch she saw off the scoreboard in left field to give the Jacks an early 4-0 lead.

State tacked on two more in the third and stretched its advantage to 6-0. Herdliska started the inning with a four-pitch walk and moved to second on Mallory McQuistan's sacrifice bunt. From there, Gerdes reached on a fielding error to put two on for the Jacks and Danielle Steffo brought Herdliska home with a single up the middle. Christian McKone walked to load the bases and Yanney Ponce's chopper to second was deep enough for Gerdes to scoot home.

Omaha got one back in the top of the fourth, but the Jacks responded immediately when Herdliska's two-run home run put SDSU back up seven (8-1). Abbey Murphy was hit by a pitch to start the frame before the Solon, Iowa native blasted a 2-2 pitch over the right field fence.

Carrying a seven-run lead into the fifth, the Jackrabbits looked to end the game early after Lyndsey Crist walked and stole second with one out, but Omaha got out of the jam to extend the action.

The Mavericks led off the sixth with a solo home run, and pushed two across in the seventh, but the Jackrabbits' early advantage held strong as Bender and Hope combined to strike out the side.

Game Notes

Paige Gerdes hit her first career home run and the Jacks' first grand slam of the season.
Ali Herdliska tallied her 21st career home run, moving into sole possession of the No. 3 spot on SDSU's career record list.
Lyndsey Crist is now seventh on State's single-season walks list with 23 free passes.
Ashlyn Bender has won three consecutive starts in the circle.

Up Next
South Dakota State and Omaha wrap up the three-game series Saturday with a doubleheader. First pitch is set for Noon, on Alumni Appreciation day. Cubby's will be at Jackrabbit Softball Stadium grilling burgers as part of the 2017 Feed the Fans promotion.

-GoJacks.com-