VERMILLION, S.D. – Top-seeded South Dakota State advanced to the program's third #SummitSB Championship title game and second straight after knocking off third-seeded North Dakota State 2-0 in the winner's bracket game Saturday afternoon at Nygaard Field.
Sophomore first team all-league pitcher Tori Kniesche was masterful per usual, collecting her 17
th win in the circle recording a one-hit complete game shutout along with 10 strikeouts in the contest.
Sophomore infielder Cylie Halvorson delivered in the first inning for the blue and gold and extended her team and league-lead in home runs, as the Sioux Falls, S.D., native belted a two-run home run, her 16
th of the season. With the home run, the Jackrabbits knocked the 73
rd home run of the season, which matches a program record for the most home runs in a season.
The Bison’s best chance to score in the contest came in the second inning, as NDSU’s Carley Goetschius and Kaylee Moore recorded back-to-back one-out walks to put two on, but Kniesche was able to stand the two runners. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Kniesche and the Jackrabbits perfected a strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out, followed by a flyout to center.
North Dakota State pitcher Paige Vargas was able to retire 12 Jackrabbits in a row after giving up the Halvorson home run, but that streak ended after an error by NDSU second basemen Skylar Padgett in the top of the fifth inning. With a runner on first, Vargas would escape with an inning-ending double play.
Kniesche kept her no-hitter intact through 4.2 innings pitched after a stellar diving catch from Jocelyn Carrillo, as the wind pushed the ball back in and she was able to secure it for second out of the fifth inning. The no-hit bid ended the following batter as Padgett posted her third hit in her last five at-bats just over the head of SDSU shortstop Rozelyn Carrillo. Kniesche came through and struck out the next batter to end the frame.
The next two innings was all Kniesche, as the sophomore retired the all three batters in both innings to earn the victory.
Pitcher of Record
Win – Tori Kniesche (17-5): 7.0 IP, 1 hit, 0 earned runs, 3 walks, 106 strikeouts
Loss – Paige Vargas (16-10): 7.0 IP, 3 hits, 2 earned runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts
Notable Notes
• The Jackrabbits will play in the title game for the third time in program history.
• Cylie Halvorson belted her league leading 16
th home run of the season in the first inning
• SDSU starter Tori Kniesche, who led league play in opponent batting average (.107) and fewest hits allowed (22), had her no-hit bid ended after 4.2 innings pitched
• Kniesche reached the century mark in overall pitches thrown for the 13
th time this season
• Rozelyn Carrillo, who’s 24-game hitting streak got snapped in the Jackrabbits’ first game of the day, registered a single up the middle in the top of the sixth inning
• Skylar Padgett has recorded a hit in every game of the tournament, going 4-8 overall
Up Next
SDSU will play in their second-straight #SummitSB Championship title game on Sunday at 10 a.m. CT. The Bison will face the winner of the tournament's next elimination game between No. 2 Omaha and No. 3 North Dakota State that is slated to start at 4:30 p.m. CT today.
#SummitSB
