Strong early start propels SDSU in win over DWU
BROOKINGS, S.D. (SDSU)– South Dakota State put together its biggest inning of the season to open the game and starting pitcher Sam Schlecht threw four no-hit, scoreless innings to lead the Jackrabbit baseball team to a 16-4, seven-inning victory over Dakota Wesleyan Wednesday afternoon at Erv Huether Field.
With the win, SDSU ended a six-game losing streak to improve to 5-22 overall. DWU dropped to 11-23 on the season.
The Jackrabbits struck for seven innings on only two hits in the bottom of the first inning as they sent 11 batters to the plate. SDSU was aided by two Tiger errors, as well as three hit batters, three walks and two wild pitches. Carter Sintek drove in the first run with a single up the middle and Davis Carr capped the outburst with a two-run double to left-center field.
SDSU added five runs in the third inning and tacked on four more in the home half of the fourth to firmly put the 10-run rule into effect. Jess Bellows started the third-inning rally with a double before scoring on the back end of a double steal. Luke Luskey plated two with a triple to the fence in left-center field and later came across on a wild pitch. Another run scored on a balk.
The four-run fourth featured a two-run single by reserve Jayden Gibson and a two-run triple by Adam Benes.
That was more than enough support for Schlecht, who faced the minimum of 12 batters in his outing. The lone baserunner the right-hander allowed to was on a hit batter, who later was erased on the first of two double plays the Jackrabbits turned in the contest. Schlecht struck out four in earning his first win in two seasons at SDSU.
DWU scored all four of its runs in the top of the fifth. Tommy Dutton led off with a single and moved to third on a double by Mason Riley. Caleb Myers delivered a two-out, two-run single to put the Tigers on the board, with the other two runs scoring on a passed ball and double by Lane Darrow.
In all, Jackrabbit pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts as Matthew Werk notched two in the fifth inning and Dylan Richey tallied four K's over the final two innings, including striking out the side in the seventh to end the game.
Bellows was 2-for-2 to pace SDSU's nine-hit effort. DWU's six hits were spread among six different players. Bellows, Bryce Ronken and Sintek each scored twice
UP NEXTThe Jackrabbits open a three-game Summit League series with Omaha at 3 p.m. Friday. A ceremony to dedicate the new turf at Erv Huether Field will be held prior to the contest, which will feature free admission and baseball-themed cookies.
NOTES
SDSU leads the all-time series, 29-2, and has won the last 13 meetings
The Jackrabbits previously scored six runs in an inning March 16 at Northern Colorado (fifth inning) and April 2 at Kansas (seventh inning)
Ronken has reached base safely in 13 consecutive games
Sintek has hit safely in 23 of the 26 games he has played in this season
Jackrabbit pitchers did not walk a batter in a game for the first time since the second game of a doubleheader against St. Thomas on April 23, 2023, although they did hit three batters on Wednesday
The DWU pitching staff combined to issue 14 free passes — eight walks and six hit batters
SDSU improved to 3-2 on its home field this season
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