SDSU EARNS DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP OVER ABILENE CHRISTIAN

Wednesday, February 11

Abilene, Texas

2 p.m.

South Dakota State University

4-3

Abilene Christian (DH)

0-6

South Dakota State

Abilene Christian

Amanda Vacanti

Photo by: Mario Terrana

2/11/2026 9:29:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Pedersen

ABILENE, Texas – The South Dakota State softball team picked up a pair of victories against Abilene Christian in a doubleheader on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at the Wildcats' Poly Wells Field. The Jackrabbits completed a run-rule 12-3 win over ACU to start the day, then capped the two-game set with an 8-5 result over the Wildcats.

Game One
SDSU scored the opening game's first 10 runs and eventually defeated Abilene Christian in six innings, 13-2.

The Jackrabbits scored three runs in the first inning, one in the second, five in the fourth and another run in the top of the fifth to go up 10-0. Just one of those runs came on an extra-base hit.

The Wildcats tallied three runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend the ballgame. A two-run double by Bria Riebel in the top of the sixth closed out the scoring.

SDSU's Emma Vike had a game-high three hits. Riebel and Alivya Bollen each had two hits with Bollen producing a team-best three RBIs. Riebel, Emma Christensen and Ella Burlage scored two runs apiece.

Akayla Barnard went the full six innings in the circle for the Jackrabbits. She allowed three runs on four hits and four walks to go along with five strikeouts. Barnard picked up her first victory of the season.

Game Two
South Dakota State did enough at the plate to pull away from Abilene Christian in the nightcap, 8-5.

Barnard hit a two-run single, driving in Riebel and Vike, to push the Jackrabbits ahead 3-1. SDSU added another run in the top of the second on an RBI single by Amanda Vacanti to make it 4-1.

Bollen hit a sacrifice fly to open the scoring in the third inning for the Jackrabbits. A two-run double by Emma Vike, which plated Alli Boyle and Kendall Daniel, put SDSU on top 7-2.

The Wildcats cut the deficit to 7-4 in the fourth. The score remained the same until the sixth when Vacanti hit a solo home run. Abilene Christian had a solo home run in the seventh, but Vacanti put the finish touches in the circle to close out the 8-5 victory for the Jackrabbits.

Madi Mangulis was credited with the win to improve to 3-0 on the season. Tayler Baker made her first appearance of the year in the circle and pitched two innings. Vacanti threw the final three innings allowing one run on two hits and two walks, while she struck out five batters.

Vacanti also had a strong showing at the plate by producing a team-high three hits. She had two hits as well as Vike and Barnard. Daniel had her first hit of the 2026 slate.

NOTES

South Dakota State improved to 6-2 on the season.
The doubleheader sweep over a true non-conference opponent was the first for the Jackrabbits since the 2024 season.
Bollen continues to lead SDSU in batting average through eight games with her .500 mark. She has a team-best 11 RBIs while she's tied for a team-high 10 hits with Christensen, Barnard and Vike.
Christensen and Barnard have an SDSU-high nine runs apiece.
Also hitting over .300 so far this year are Vacanti (.444), Christensen (.385), Barnard (.385), Riebel (.381) and Vike (.333).
SDSU had two pitchers with ERAs under 3.00 this season in Barnard (2.55) and Mangulis (2.77).

UP NEXT
South Dakota State heads to Stephenville, Texas, for the Whataburger Invitational hosted by Tarleton State. The Jackrabbits begin play at the tournament at 10 a.m. on Friday against Stephen F. Austin.

-GoJacks.com-