JACKRABBITS TAKE FINALE OVER LUMBERJACKS

Sunday, February 8

Commerce, Texas

11:15 a.m.

South Dakota State University

4-1

Stephen F. Austin

4-1

SFA

South Dakota State

A softball pitcher in a blue uniform with white pin stripes begins to throw the ball from above her head towards the plate

Madi Mangulis

Photo by: Aiden Pelphrey

2/8/2026 2:04:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Andrew Pedersen

COMMERCE, Texas – South Dakota State closed out its stay at the East Texas A&M Leadoff by defeating Stephen F. Austin, 4-3, at Cain Family Field on Sunday.

The Jackrabbits responded after dropping a 7-6 game to the Lumberjacks on Friday in Commerce.

SDSU got off to a strong start when Akayla Barnard hit an inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the first. The Jacks extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the second. Alivya Bollen began the inning with a double, then she was plated on Bria Riebel's first-career home run.

Starting pitcher Madi Mangulis had a solid opening four innings of work for South Dakota State. She allowed just one hit in that span. SFA got two runners on base in the fifth, but a double play turned on a live drive caught by Emma Vike at shortstop ended the threat.

The Lumberjacks got the sixth inning started with a two-run home run, ended Mangulis's day in the circle. SDSU handed the ball off to reliever Hailey Herman who gave up one hit, but got the final three outs of the frame and bring the Jackrabbits back to the plate.

Riebel hit a one-out double and she'd be plated on an RBI single by Vike to extend SDSU's lead to 4-2.

Herman struck out the first two Lumberjacks that came to bat in the seventh, but Stephen F. Austin mounted a rally. The Lumberjacks got two runners on base after a single and an infield error. They cut the deficit to 4-3 with an RBI single and had runners on first and second base with a chance to take the lead. Herman struck the final batter out on a full count to close the game out.

SDSU improved to 4-1 on the season with the victory, while Stephen F. Austin picked up its first loss and dropped to 4-1.

The Jackrabbits had a trio of players finish with two hits including Vike, Riebel and Emma Christensen. Riebel came around to score twice. Mangulis improved to 2-0 in the circle for SDSU. She pitched five-plus innings and allowed two runs on four hits and three walks. Mangulis struck out six hitters. Herman was credited with her first save of the season. She threw two innings and didn't allow an earned run. Herman struck out four hitters and didn't give up a walk.

NOTES

South Dakota State has three players hitting above .400 through five games in Bollen (.500), Barnard (.444) and Alli Boyle (.400). The Jacks are hitting .331 as a team.
Mangulis now has a 1.43 ERA in three appearances this season. She narrowly trails Barnard who has a team-best 1.40 ERA.

UP NEXT
South Dakota State travels to Waco, Texas, for a single game on Tuesday. The Jackrabbits face Baylor at 5 p.m.

-GoJacks.com-