JACKS DROP TIGHT GAMES TO BEGIN MAVERICK INVITATIONAL

Friday, March 13

Arlington, Texas

1 p.m.

South Dakota State University

15-13

Columbia

3-11

South Dakota State

Columbia

A woman in a grey uniform with blue details swings a softball bat and makes contact with the ball going into the air

Amanda Vacanti

Photo by: Mario Terrana

3/13/2026 9:16:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Pedersen

ARLINGTON, Texas – South Dakota State softball fell in its opening games in the Maverick Invitational, hosted by UT Arlington, on Friday. The Jackrabbits lost by a 3-2 score to Columbia, then dropped a 4-1 decision to the host Mavericks at Allan Saxe Field.

Game One
South Dakota State recorded just two hits, while Columbia broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning, as the Lions came away with a 3-2 victory over the Jacks.

Columbia led 1-0 heading into the fourth. The top of the inning saw SDSU's Bria Riebel hit a solo home run to tie the score. The Lions responded in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single to go back in front, 2-1.

SDSU again tied the score in the top of the sixth when Amanda Vacanti hit a solo home run. In a similar fashion two innings later, Columbia again took a one-run lead, this time on an RBI double as the Lions took a 3-2 advantage into the seventh.

Emma Christensen hit a single in the inning for the Jackrabbits, but she'd be left stranded. Columbia starting pitcher Mads Lawson threw a complete game as she allowed two runs on four hits. She struck out seven Jackrabbits while walking just one.

Tayler Baker got the start for the Jacks in the circle. She allowed two runs over four innings of work. Hailey Herman gave up one run over a two-inning stretch and eventually was credited with the loss.

Game Two
South Dakota State was unable to hang on to a 1-0 lead as the Jackrabbits eventually was defeated 4-1 by the Mavericks.

SDSU starting pitcher Akayla Barnard got off to a strong start in the circle. She allowed just one hit over her first four innings of work as the score sat scoreless heading into the fifth.

A leadoff walk drawn by Quinn Marnocha got SDSU started. Emma Vike hit a single and the two advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Riebel. Vacanti drove Marnocha in on an RBI single to give SDSu an early advantage.

UT Arlington tied the score in the bottom of the fifth. A 1-2-3 top of the sixth led to the Mavericks coming back to the plate in the bottom of the frame. They'd score three runs on four hits in the inning to go ahead 4-1. The host side put the Jackrabbits down in order in the seventh to close out the win.

Maverick pitcher Madi McDonnell pitched three shutout innings of relief. She earned the win for UT Arlington to improve to 5-7 on the season.

SDSU had just three hits in the game. Also getting on base via a hit was Ella Berlage on a single.

South Dakota State is now 14-15 overall on the season .

UP NEXT
South Dakota State continues play at the Maverick Invitational on Saturday. The Jackrabbits face Columbia at 1 p.m. and UT Arlington at 3:30 p.m.

-GoJacks.com-