SDSU Softball Ends While USD Plays for Summit Title

FARGO, N.D. — Fourth-seeded South Dakota State saw its 2019 Summit League Championships run come to an end Friday, falling 5-0 to North Dakota State at Tharaldson Park. The Jackrabbits (37-16) had six hits in the game and put runners in scoring position in the second, third and fifth innings, but were unable to break through as the Bison rode a middle-inning rally to the win. A solo home run put NDSU up one in the fourth, and an inning later the Bison pushed four more runs across to go ahead, 5-0. Kendra Conard (17-5) threw all seven innings, scattering eight hits with five runs (four earned) allowed. Conard struck out one in her fourth appearance of the weekend. Caelyn Christiancy logged a double for SDSU, as five other Jackrabbits recorded hits. South Dakota State has applied for the 2019 National Invitational Softball Championship, which announces its field Sunday evening after the NCAA selection show.
-0-
Earlier in the day, the USD Coyotes moved to the championship game of the Summit League tournament with a 10-1 win over North Dakota State. The Coyotes used two big innings early to jump on North Dakota State and earns the win which sent the Coyotes to the Summit League championship this afternoon in Fargo against NDSU. South Dakota plated five runs on three hits including a 3-run home run from Jessica Rogers in the first inning to jump out to a quick five run advantage. Two innings later the Yotes extended their lead when Dustie Durham hit her second 2-RBI single up the middle of the game, giving her four RBIs in just three innings. The Championship game will be at 1 p.m.