JACKRABBITS COMPLETE SWEEP OVER FIGHTING HAWKS

Monday, March 30

Brookings, S.D.

2:30 p.m.

South Dakota State University

2-02-0, 5-1

North Dakota

22-14, 0-3

North Dakota

South Dakota State

Tayler Baker

Photo by: Sydney Jorgenson

3/30/2026 5:22:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Andrew Pedersen

BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State completed a three-game sweep against North Dakota on Monday behind a 4-1 Summit League victory at Jerald T. Moriarty Field on Monday.

The Jackrabbits and Fighting Hawks were scoreless through the opening three innings.

SDSU starting pitcher Amanda Vacanti worked hard to put down the Fighting Hawks early. She didn't allow a hit to the UND lineup, but walked six batters across three innings of work. It included a bases loaded threat with no outs in the first that Vacanti was able to escape.

The Fighting Hawks got on the board in the top of the fourth. A one-out double by Jaedyn Valdez saw her plated on a two-out double via teammate Brooklyn Morris to put the visitors on top.

South Dakota State responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Akayla Barnard hit a single and Abby Gentry followed with a double to put two Jackrabbits on base. They'd score on an Emma Christensen RBI single and Alivya Bollen sacrifice fly.

A scoreless fifth inning pitched by Tayler Baker led to another two SDSU runs in bottom of the frame. Bria Riebel smacked a one-out double and she scored on Amanda Vacanti's RBI single. Barnard eventually reached again on a fielder's choice and wound up scoring on an RBI double to give the Jacks a 4-1 edge heading to the sixth.

Barnard came in for relief. The sixth inning saw her hit a batter and walk one, however she'd get an inning-ending ground out to end any threat. Barnard came back out for the seventh and threw a 1-2-3 inning to close out the win for the South Dakota State.

South Dakota State improved to 20-20 overall, and 5-1 in Summit League play, following the series sweep over North Dakota. The Jackrabbits previously defeated the Fighting Hawks 14-6 and 8-0 in run-rule victories prior to Monday. UND fell to 22-14 (0-3).

Gentry and Riebel had two doubles apiece for the Jacks. Christensen and Ella Berlage also each had two hits for SDSU. Barnard had a team-high two runs.

Baker was credited with the win. She allowed a run across two innings on three hits. Barnard claimed a save in her relief effort. It was her second of the season.

NOTES

The Jackrabbits have now won 18 straight games against the Fighting Hawks. South Dakota State has won six straight regular season series over UND.
South Dakota State is hitting .361 in six games of conference play. Six Jackrabbits are hitting over .300 in Christensen (.533), Gentry (.529), Riebel (.474), Barnard (.389), Vacanti (.350) and Mia Buske (.333).
Riebel has a team-high three home runs and Barnard follows her with two. The two are tied for the team lead in runs scored (10). Gentry and Riebel each have six RBIs.
Barnard has pitched a team-high 13 innings in Summit League action. She has a 0.00 ERA with two shutouts.

UP NEXT
South Dakota State is currently scheduled to begin a three-game series in Brookings against Kansas City on Thursday.

-GoJacks.com-