JACKS SEASON ENDS FRIDAY IN TOUGH DEFEATS

Friday, May 8

Minneapolis, Minn.

1 p.m.

South Dakota State University

25-33

South Dakota

19-33-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
South Dakota	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	7	0
South Dakota St.	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2

Madi Mangulis

Photo by: Andrew Pedersen

5/8/2026 9:21:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Pedersen

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – South Dakota State fell in a pair of games at The Summit League Softball Championship on Friday, May 8, at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. The Jackrabbits lost 2-0 to begin the day against South Dakota, then fell 8-0 in five innings to Omaha as their 2026 season came to a close.

Game One
SDSU got a strong outing from starting pitcher Madi Mangulis, but the Jackrabbits were unable to overcome a stellar pitching effort from South Dakota's Madison Evans in the 2-0 defeat.

Both teams put up scoreless first frames before South Dakota scored its two runs in the ballgame. The top of the second saw the Yotes hit back-to-back singles to lead the inning off. A sacrifice bunt moved USD's runners to second and third base. South Dakota's Sara Iburg and Abi Brown followed with RBI singles to give the Coyotes a 2-0 lead.

Evans was superb in the circle for USD. She retired SDSU's first 11 batters before Akayla Barnard drew a walk in the fourth inning.

South Dakota State got momentum going in the sixth. After an inning-opening walk, Quinn Marnocha and Emma Vike drew walks to put two runners on base. Abby Gentry came to the plate and smoked the first pitch she saw to right-center field, but USD's right fielder made a leaping catch on the warning track to make the second out. Evans then produced a strikeout to get out of the frame unscathed.

Mangulis kept the Jackrabbits in the meeting during her appearance. She threw three separate 1-2-3 innings and got out of the seventh with no damage done, bringing SDSU back to the plate for a final opportunity.

The bottom of the seventh was led off by Amanda Vacanti who hit a single. A Bria Riebel one-out infield single gave SDSU two runners on with one out. The very next pitch saw Evans produce a ground ball, leading to a double play to close out a complete-game victory.

The win advanced South Dakota to Saturday's championship game. Mangulis went the distance in the circle for SDSU. She allowed the two USD runs on seven hits. Mangulis didn't walk a batter in the game while she struck out two.

Game Two
SDSU and Omaha met in an elimination game Friday afternoon. The top-seeded Mavericks pulled out an 8-0 run-rule win to move on to Saturday's championship to take on South Dakota.

Omaha only tallied five hits, but capitalized on its opportunities en route to the win. The Mavericks scored six runs in the top of the fourth inning to pull away. Omaha scored a run on a sacrifice fly in the fifth to put the finishing touches on the win.

Mangulis got another start for SDSU in the circle. She threw the opening 3 1/3 innings before making way for the Jackrabbits' bullpen for the first time during tournament play. Vacanti and Akayla Barnard each made pitching appearances for SDSU.

South Dakota State recorded six hits against the Omaha pitching staff of Maddia Groff and Alexis Wiggins. Ella Berlage and Alli Boyle made up for two hits apiece for the Jackrabbits. Vike and Emma Christensen each had a hit for SDSU.

The Jackrabbits 2026 season ended on Friday with a 25-33 record. Friday's action was the final game in the college careers for SDSU's Boyle, Vike, Christensen, Alivya Bollen and Kaylee Kardash.

-GoJacks.com-