Two weeks ago, Becky Hammon found herself in the national spotlight for the wrong reasons. The Rapid City native announced her intention to play basketball for the Russians in the Olympics this summer. Hammon brought notice to the country that South Dakota had some great women’s basketball players in the mid ’90s. I quickly became a fan of her style of play.

For those who have not heard of Becky Hammon, she starred at Rapid City Central in her high school career. She became an All-American at Colorado State while leading them to the Sweet Sixteen in 1998-99. Unfortunately, she went undrafted in the WNBA draft. She quickly became a star with the New York Liberty and most recently the San Antonio Silver Stars, and finished second in the WNBA MVP race last year.

She was the reason many South Dakotans took notice of the WNBA. They wanted to see just how good a South Dakota girl could be against some of the best women’s basketball players. She has shown she belongs with the elite and has a successful career going in the WNBA. However, last week Hammon said she felt like the American team gave her a cold shoulder when she tried out for the Olympics last year. She soon signed a contract with a Russian team with the perk of being able to play in the Olympics ? for Russia.

It should not be surprising in this era where many athletes care only about themselves. After catching a part of her interview with a Sioux Falls radio station a couple weeks ago, I became sick when listening to her words. I was also intrigued by her reasoning to abandon her home. During her interview, she came off as self-centered and self-absorbed. The greatest influence in South Dakota women’s basketball history had become like many American athletes. She only cared about herself and her dreams and did not care if it hurt anyone else. The greed, the want and the get-the-hell-out-of-my-way method that is used to get anything they want at any price. Hammon definitely showed all of these motives in her radio interview.

This probably would have gone unnoticed, until Hammon had the opportunity to be interviewed by ESPN.

“The jersey that I wear has never made me who I was,” said Hammon. “It has nothing to do with what’s written on my heart. Will I be playing for Russia? Yes. But I’m absolutely 100 percent still an American. I love our country. I love what we stand for. This is an opportunity to fulfill my dream of playing in the Olympics.”

The Rapid City native’s actions have turned away many of her fans, including me. But Becky, you can win me back as a fan for a price. Everyone has their own price; Becky Hammon just has her own motives. Her actions could lead to future athletes abandoning their homeland to play for selfish pride in another country.

This spring has not been great for some teams on campus. Weather, injuries and coaching changes have inundated some teams, while others hold strong and work toward high expectations for next year. With spring only about a month old, some teams are waiting for it to end. However, with the beginning of spring also comes the end of the year. What does this spring hold in store for some teams busy on campus?

A look at the volleyball team shows a lot of question marks this spring. Injuries have hit Mackenzie Angner and Annie Adams, leaving coach Palileo short handed at times. Speaking of coach Palileo, his name surfaced last week as an applicant for a head coaching opening at Florida Gulf Coast University. Combined with the recent announcement by Drake University naming Phil McDaniel head coach, the Jacks could be in for a long year. One bright spot comes later this month when the Jacks will announce some late signings for the 2008 season.

Football has been a victim of the weather this spring as a few of the spring practice dates had to be postponed. Even though Coach Stig has his work cut out for him this spring, do not expect the football team to be lazy. The Gateway Football Conference, which soon could be called the Missouri Valley Conference, is the best conference in the Football Championship Series and produces some of the best games week in, week out. The Jacks lost many weapons but hope to plug those holes this spring and fall, as they are eligible for a National Championship.

Softball has also faced the wrath of spring; multiple games have been moved due to weather. Fortunately, coach Lane has had the team ready to play at a moment’s notice. They have responded by not missing a beat, going 5-1 in the six moved games and are currently in the hunt for a conference championship. Compared with last year, the Jacks softball team is en fuego with a new breath of life not seen in many years. The best news for the Jacks: eight of their last 16 games are supposed to be played on campus, giving the road-weary Jacks a chance to play in front of a home crowd to boost their energy.

The baseball team has been in the same boat as softball and has found themselves in Omaha for home games. Coach Christiansen and staff hope like heck they can get at least one home game in this year at the still unfinished Huether Field. Illnesses have also affected the team as the Jacks have been without key players this spring. With roughly half of their remaining games at home, the Jacks have hopes of moving above .500 on the season.

On the pitch, coach Wedemeyer and the soccer team come into spring with high expectations. After many predicted the Jacks to be cellar dwellers in the conference last year, the Jacks surprised many with a third-place finish in conference. As this spring progresses, the team will prepare themselves for next year against top teams in the region. The Jacks have a solid team coming back and already have five commitments for 2009. This could be a break out year for the Jacks as they hope to make a run to the NCAA tourney.

Finally, I want to pass on my congratulations to Phil McDaniel for being named the coach at Drake University. Those of us who know Phil, know how great he is and know that he will make an even greater head coach. Congrats Phil, you have earned this position; you will be greatly missed around here.

Recent snowstorms have wreaked havoc with the Jackrabbit softball team’s schedule. Instead of canceling games, however, the Jacks chose to travel to Ralston, Neb., as the IUPUI Jaguars faced them this past weekend.

The Jacks swept the weekend series, winning 3-1, 7-0 and 12-3. It boosted the Jacks record to 11-17 overall and 4-2 in Summit League play, while the Jaguars fall to 1-12 overall and 0-6 in league play.

“It was a very good outing for the entire team,” said head coach Joanna Lane. “We had one bad inning defensively. We had multiple errors in one inning that led to one run. If you are going to give up only one run in a multiple-error inning, that is pretty good too. We were able to limit big innings and errors and finally able to do the things we wanted to on that [defensive] side of the ball.”

Jackrabbit junior Jenna Marston brought out her best in front of a hometown crowd. Marston tied a career and season high with nine strikeouts in the first win, following it up with a complete game shutout in game two.

Sam Heinzman opened the first game with a walk and stole second right away before scoring on an Ashley Durazo sacrifice fly, putting the Jacks up 1-0 early. Neither team could get much offense going until the fifth inning. Heinzman broke up a Meaghan Raynes no-hitter effort and double scored Steph Peters and Stacey Evans, who walked earlier, to put SDSU on top 3-0.

The Jaguars loaded the bases in the fifth, using a pair of hits and a Jackrabbit error to score in the sixth, but Marston limited the Jaguars’ offensive efforts, closing out the game for her ninth win of the season.

The second game started with a Heinzman walk and another stolen base. Brittany Postma followed with an infield single, and Jessica Vineyard got hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Durazo, who delivered a two-run single, giving the Jacks an early 2-0 lead.

Evans singled to open the second inning, scoring on a Heinzman double to give the Jacks a 3-0 lead.

Kiley Schwedhelm put the Jacks up 4-0 with a solo shot. Peters started a two-out rally in the sixth by drawing a walk. Vineyard drove her home with a double. Vineyard advanced on the throw home and scored on a Durazo single. Durazo then stole second and eventually scored on a Dani Broshar single for the final 7-0 margin.

Marston followed up her career-tying nine strikeouts with seven in the nightcap, scattering five hits.

“Jenna did wonderful. She has worked extremely hard all season, and it has been tough for her throwing a lot of innings,” said Lane. “We really talked about, ‘Look you are at the halfway point. You can wipe everything clean and start over and do everything with conference goals,’ and that is what she did.”

Finding themselves in an early 2-0 hole in the series finale, the Jacks bounced to life in the bottom of the second when Stroh scored Brittany Postma and Broshar with a triple. SDSU took the lead for good in the bottom of the third when Broshar singled home Durazo and Heinzman, putting the Jacks on top 4-2.

Schwedhelm singled to open the fourth inning and scored on a Heinzman single. Heinzman stole second. Brooke Postma then reached on an error, allowing Stroh to score. Later, Postma stole a base, and Durazo came up and doubled home Heinzman and Postma for an 8-2 Jackrabbit lead. Durazo was thrown out at third to end the inning.

Needing three runs to end the game in the fifth, Schwedhelm doubled to score Brittany Postma. Schwedhelm scored on an Evans’ double in the next at bat. Peters, pinch-hitting for Brooke Postma, delivered a bases-loaded, two-out single to end the game.

The Jacks return to the diamond April 2 against the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers and during a weekend series in Omaha against Centenary, which was scheduled to be in Brookings.

“Snow is something you deal with; the kids know it. It just means we have to get back on a bus and go back to Omaha this weekend,” Lane said.

The mixture of snowy weather combined with nice weather has given me hope. Even though two days out of every week during the last four weeks has been coated with snow, I am hopeful that spring is here. Visions of outdoor activities have danced in my dreams. After what seems like eight months of winter, the thought of being able to go enjoy a round of golf brings joy to my soul. Soon more sounds of spring will fill the air as softball, baseball and football practices and games will be occurring all over campus.

While I enjoy the basketball games that come with the winter season, the sound of the ping off a softball bat is just as enjoyable. Being outside and sucking in the fresh air of spring brings life into many college students around the country. They stumble out of their dark, dank, warm dorm rooms into the freshness that is spring, like zombies. Outdoors enthusiasts are unshackled and allowed to roam free into the wild world of sports. No longer do I have to hear about hockey, skiing or even curling; I now can enjoy baseball, spring football, soccer and golf.

The green grass beckons for attention, whether it be taking a nap outside, frolicking with a loved one on it or taking up a divot on a 200-yard shoot to the green on a par five. Spring is what some consider the start of a new sports season with baseball’s Opening Day marking the start of the march to summer and the Atlanta Braves run at the World Series. April is when many sports end their seasons with playoffs and championship games.

The NFL draft brings hope to prospects like Chris Wagner, Mitch Erickson and Parker Douglass for their shot at being the next South Dakota State alum in the NFL. Soccer and volleyball teams come together for the first time since November to practice and compete as a team. Coach Stig and crew take their last breaths as Great West Champions and get ready for a grueling year in the Gateway Football Conference.

Spring is also when progress on all sorts of building projects occurs. Soon ground will be broken for the Dykehouse Center, the Wellness Center is on its last stages of construction and Harding Hall South is well underway. Shepard Hall is on its last breaths of life as this spring brings its demolition and replacement with a new multimillion-dollar science building. There are signs of old being replaced with new all over the community. The season of spring boots out the seasons of past and brings in seasons of new.

Fear not students and alums, this spring brings much hope to the campus of SDSU. April is going to be a time of great change in the Brookings community as college kids start moving back home. Beware that there are only four more weeks of classes before finals week. Take this time to enjoy the end of year, make some new friends, grill out with some old friends, have fun and get ready for summer.

Editor’s note: Hartley and the other sportswriters can be reached at collegian.sports@gmail.com.

The old saying, “close only counts in hand grenades and horse shoes,” has held true for the Jackrabbit softball team. Coming into this weekend, the Jacks have been on the losing end of four games decided by three runs or less. After another tough weekend, the Jacks added two more close games to that count, as they went 1-4 at the Shocker Invite held at Wichita State.

“Overall, the weekend was full of positives, whether it be wins or losses. We played Wichita State, who had been receiving votes in the AP Top 25, close. And we had an opportunity to win the game,” said head coach Joanna Lane. “I think overall, our offense is coming alive. We have some things we have to do when it comes to hitting with runners in scoring position and when it comes to moving runners by bunts and hit and runs. Despite a 1-4 record, we have plenty of things to be positive about.”

During the Wichita game, Stacey Evans’ two-out double scored Jessica Vineyard, making the score 1-0 in the first. Unfortunately, a multitude of early errors put the Jacks in an early 5-1 hole.

Ashley Durazo singled home Greta Stroh from third to make the score 5-2 going into the fourth inning. Brittany Postma singled and scored on a Kiley Schwedhelm single to get the Jacks within two runs at 5-3, but that was all the Jacks could muster.

Facing Big Twelve foe Iowa State, the Jacks found offense, but not enough, falling 15-7 to the Cyclones. Durazo reached on an error and scored on a Schwedhelm single, giving the Jacks an early 1-0 lead. After a six run first inning for Iowa State, Dani Broshar opened the Jacks’ second with a single, scoring later when Durazo reached on an error, making it 6-2.

Down by four, Brooke Postma singled to open the fourth and advanced to second on a bunt single by Stroh. Sam Heinzman walked, loading the bases and bringing up Durazo, whose single scored Postma and Stroh. Vineyard singled home Heinzman and Durazo, tying the game at six-all. Iowa State scored six runs in the fourth building up a 12-6 lead. Stroh’s first career homerun in the fifth gave the Jacks some hopes, but the Cyclones power game ended the game in the bottom of the fifth with three more runs with the score 15-7.

Against UMKC, Heinzman opened the game with a single through the left side, and scored two batters later on a Vineyard double to put SDSU on top 1-0. It stayed that way until the bottom of the third, when UMKC used six hits and one Jackrabbit error to score five runs. Durazo’s RBI double drove in Heinzman, making the score 5-2 in UMKC’s favor

In their second meeting, Iowa State’s offense got the best of the Jacks as they fell 12-5. Heinzman started the first by getting hit by a pitch before a Durazo triple brought her home. Durazo later scored on an illegal pitch, giving the Jacks an early 2-0.

The Jackrabbit lead did not last long, as the Cyclones countered with two runs in the second, one in the third and put the game away with five in the fifth. The Jacks scored three runs in the sixth inning, but ISU got them back in the top of the seventh, winning 12-5 and securing the weekend sweep. Durazo had a solid game at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a pair of singles, a double and a triple, leaving her just a homerun shy of the cycle.

The Kangaroos of UMKC took advantage of the Jacks early in the last game of the tourney before SDSU found some offensive weapons.

Steph Peters and Heinzman got on base early. Durazo came up with two runners on and knocked in Peters with single. After Vineyard loaded the bases, Schwehelm singled home Heinzman, bringing the Jacks within one. Broshar’s bases-loaded triple cleared the bases, giving the Jacks a 5-3 lead.

Stroh came up next and singled home Broshar. Peters opened the fourth with her second walk of the game and scored on a Heinzman triple. Heinzman scored later on a Vineyard sac fly to put SDSU on top 8-4. UMKC scored in the sixth and seventh innings, but stranded runners as the Jacks hung on for the 8-6 win.

The Jacks (5-13) return to action this weekend when they travel to face Southern Utah in the first game of the seven-game trip.

I have seen a few sports movies in my day.

This weekend, I decided to go to one on a date with my girlfriend. After leaving the theater disappointed, I racked my brain, coming up with the top five worst sports movies ever. (This list is subject to debate, of course.) Here are five of the worst things to come out of Hollywood since Britney Spears’ career.

5. The Replacements (2000)

Pro-football players strike; replacements from all over come in and make the season continue with ease. Keanu Reeves stars as Shane Falco, a once promising quarterback, who earns his living scraping barnacles and other debris off boats tied to the marina. How can one take Keanu Reeves seriously as a football player? Washington Sentinels have the ball on their 20-yard line when they are called for a 10-yard holding penalty; the next play was run from their seven-yard line. I think Hollywood went on strike long before this year.

4. Semi-Pro (2008)

Will Farrell stars as has-been Jackie Moon in this movie, which is like every other Farrell movie. The 70s look was decent but could have been better. Woody Harrelson’s talents were wasted by the same people who have been killing Farrell’s career in the past four years. Every sports movie he stars in is almost exactly like Talladega Nights. You see a three-point arc when the three-point arc was not instituted into basketball until the 1979-1980 season. The movie is funny, but it’s still Talladega Nights, only a basketball version of it.

3. Slap Shot II: Breaking the Ice (2002)

Ron French had to wake the Hanson Brothers, who were the dorky co-stars in the first Slapshot, from their pot-induced comas to act in this horribly-planned movie. Why is it that sequels tend to suck big time? This movie received a zero percent rating on Rotten Tomato, which the movie rightfully deserved. Even Gary Busey, of all people, struggled to make this movie bearable.

2. Summer Catch (2001)

Even Jessica Biel could not save this movie from being horrible. Freddie Prinze, Jr., struggled to even make his acting skills look halfway decent. Freddie plays a pro-baseball prospect playing in a summer league in Cape Cod. Along the way, Prinze’s character falls in love with a rich girl from town. With its lame and predictable jokes and sappy romantic lines, this movie seems to go on forever without any real baseball action mixing in. I wanted to choke on some popcorn just to get out of watching this horrible movie.

1. Little Big League (1994)

Making a winner out of a Minnesota sports team is way unbelievable, but Little Big League adds a twist to make young Billy Heywood the team’s owner/manager. The movie sort of follows the real life Minnesota Twins during that time, as they are in last place when Billy starts managing the team. The movie is ridiculously pointless but entertains the hopeful sports enthusiast.

As winter turns into spring, activity on campus increases. Almost every sport the school offers is practicing somewhere on campus, or if not on campus, in the city of Brookings. Work progresses on facilities that have been needed for the campus community, and this spring marks the end of a journey for SDSU.

Four years ago, SDSU made the jump up to Division I. As the 2007-2008 school year slowly comes to a close, the Jacks have positioned themselves atop the Summit. Once the last relay is ran this spring and the last out recorded on the diamond, so ends the season. It is not just another season, this is the last season SDSU and NDSU are ineligible for the NCAA tourney in most sports. Come next fall, football, basketball, soccer, baseball and softball have the chance to represent South Dakota and SDSU in front of the whole country.

The journey hasn’t been all play and no work. There has been a few causalities along the way. Attendance here has struggled at times, but Jacks’ fans still are the most passionate about their teams. One stop to the SDSUFans.com forum confirms that. There are over a thousand members on board, voicing their opinion about various topics from the new Jackrabbit to Scott Nagy’s blue blazer and everything in between.

Coaches have been lost due to various reasons; players left to play for other schools, which has been expected.

Many naysayers thought that would be the end of their competitiveness on a national level. That has been proven wrong on many levels, most recently by the SDSU volleyball and women’s basketball.

They said kids from the region would not have opportunities to play at SDSU; a quick look at the rosters shows that some of the key players on many teams are from within four hours of Brookings. Success in the classroom was bound to drop in their minds. The last two years, the women’s basketball team has been ranked number one in GPA. This fall, 53 students made the Summit League All-Academic honor roll; seems like we are doing good in the classroom to me.

SDSU has faced a George Washington and a Utah women’s team that is ranked in the Top 25. Another local team wanting to move up to Division I faced thriving NAIA schools like Dana College and Midland Lutheran. Seriously, Midland Lutheran? Are they a high school team from Nebraska? At least USD could try to revive the rivalry with Morningside College.

All journeys have to end somewhere, with a lesson learned; Jackrabbit fans have learned a lot. They have learned that the Jacks will be competitive in the Summit League as a top tier program. They also discovered the football team will be competitive in the Gateway Football Conference and should have a chance to be near the top of the field.

The ride is almost over, Jackrabbit faithful; enjoy what is left of the journey.

Editor’s note: Nick Hartley, Ariy-El Boynton and the rest of the sports reporters can be reached at collegian.sports@gmail.com

Jackrabbits softball looked to get back on the winning track against Boston University and Missouri after struggling the weekend before. A trip to the “Show Me” state found them on the losing end of 8-3 and 3-1 decisions against Missouri and 4-0 and 10-7 defeats to Boston University on Feb. 29 and March 1.

“I don’t know if it struggling on the road as is becoming comfortable with the style of play that we’re looking to have,” said first-year coach Joanna Lane. “Missouri is a very good team, and Boston University is not a slouch. We knew coming in this would be a very difficult set of four games. It is a different style of play [playing indoors] that you have to get used to.”

The Jacks found themselves down 2-0 to Missouri early on Feb. 29. A Sam Heinzman RBI double brought home Ashley Durazo, making it 2-1. Missouri bounced back with three runs in the second and fourth innings to take an 8-1 lead. Dani Broshar drove in Heinzman in the sixth to make it 8-2. Stacey Evans doubled home Broshar to make it 8-3 to end all scoring. Kiley Schwedhelm made her first pitching appearance of the season for the Jacks, and went the distance, striking out three and walking five.

Jenna Marston opened the second game of the first night with three and two-thirds no-hit innings, but the Terriers (Boston University) came through with two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth, securing a 4-0 win for Boston. Marston pitched all six innings for the Jacks, allowing four hits, while striking out five and walking four. She gave up four runs in the loss.

The Jacks looked to turn their fortunes around against Missouri in the third game of the weekend but could not muster much offense. The young Jacks drove in just one run, losing 3-1. Jessica Vineyard opened the inning with a triple to deep center field, and scored on a Brooke Postma single just over the second baseman’s glove into right-center field. Marston struggled through six innings of work, giving up nine hits, three runs, no walks and six strikeouts.

“It is hit and miss. We have a couple kids hitting very well this year, and a couple more coming around,” said Lane of the Jacks hitting woes this spring. “We have people getting it done; it is just more of a consistency thing. The key for us is eliminating the strikeouts and that is the problem right now. We know the adjustments we have to make and are making them right now.”

In the final game of the weekend against BU, the Jacks trailed early until Heinzman scored on a Vineyard bunt to tie the game at 1-1. Broshar drilled a one-out homer to left, putting the Jacks on top 2-1. BU pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the third to take a 3-2 lead. Heinzman opened the third with a solo home run to center to tie the game at 3-3. Durazo walked and scored later on an illegal pitch to put the Jacks back on top 4-3. BU plated four runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth taking a 10-4 lead. Down in the bottom of the seventh, the Jacks loaded the bases with two outs, and watched Schwedhelm unload them with a double into left field, bringing the Jacks within three runs at 10-7 to end the game.

Jackrabbit softball returns to the diamond on March 7-9 at the Shocker Invitational in Wichita, Kan.

SDSU will face Iowa State along with Witcha State and Summit foe UMKC at the invite.

Road trips are fun, and on Feb. 16 and 17, my friend Jordan, Amy, my girlfriend and I had the pleasure of road-tripping with the Back of the Bus Gang to the doubleheader against UMKC. Being a roadtrip veteran, I knew what to expect, as I have been to eight different states already.

The Back of the Bus Gang has followed SDSU to away games for 15 years and is made up of various SDSU supporters and alumni. Dave and Shar Quam organize the trips for the fans. Trip price includes bus fare, hotel room, game tickets and solid driver’s trip. Most of the time, the trips include alumni gatherings and some form of entertainment after the game.

After leaving Brookings, the fun was just beginning. Sitting in the back of the bus, I heard stories about the past from longtime Jackrabbit fans. Stories about games in the Barn, games on the road, national title games with vivid descriptions as if they just took place in the last year or two and stories that made me proud to be a Jackrabbit. As the trip progressed, we passed by locations of former North Central Conference teams that fell into the black abyss of nothingness. We sang a song about the old abandoned outhouse called The U; we drank, played cards and had a great time.

Once in St. Joseph, Mo., where we were staying, we had 30 minutes to get ready for the game. That meant getting as much face painting done as possible before getting on the bus. Everyone managed to get their coat of blue paint on before leaving. A few racy quotes from the girls later and everyone was ready for the pre-game alumni gathering just across the street from Kemper.

We met a few alums, had some food, drank some more and sang some songs. After accomplishing the top score in six of the Penthouse games on the bar’s video game system that had 20 credits in, we walked over to Kemper for the game. Great seats three rows behind the bench provided us with a great view of the game and opportunities to check out Kemper, which has a private bar. After watching the game and making fun of their morbidly obese kangaroo and their whole student section of five students, we trudged back outside in the rain to the bus and back to St. Joe’s.

After getting cleaned up, we decided it was too early for us to go back to our room and traveled across town to Terrible’s Casino, where we proceeded to spend the next two hours playing games and trying to make money. After playing wise with my money, I decided to quit early and finish up $6. We decided at about 2 a.m. that it was late and called for a taxi back to the Drury Inn – which I recommend staying at – and hit the hay in their nice comfortable beds.

Waking up at 7 a.m., we found an amazing breakfast buffet that only a football lineman could think of. I loaded up on some goodies before heading back to the room to finish packing. After driving through a snowstorm for an hour and a few stops in Iowa and Sioux Falls, we were back in Brookings.

All in all, it was a great trip to Missouri, full of fun memories and some great stories. Thanks to the Back of the Bus Gang for a great time.

The Jackrabbit softball team hoped to enjoy some fun in the warm sun while visiting Florida this weekend; unfortunately, the trip to the Sunshine State was only a single win. The Jacks went 1-4 on the weekend. The Jacks lost 4-3 to Western Carolina, 11-0 and 12-0 to host Florida Gulf Coast and 5-4 to Boston College, while beating St. Bonaventure 6-2.

Western Carolina opened the first game by scoring one run in the third inning and then added four more in the fourth to take a 5-0 lead. The Jackrabbits used a pair of Catamount errors to get on the board in the sixth.

Jessica Vineyard reached on an error and moved up to second on a Brittany Postma bunt single. Kiley Schwedhelm sent a single to left field that scored both Jacks. Stacey Evans came up and walked, while Ashley Durazo got hit by a pitch to load the bases. Dani Broshar reached on an error, allowing Schwedhelm to score, making the score 5-4. Unfortunately, a pitching change ended the game with the tying run on third and the go-ahead run on second.

The Jacks faced FGCU in the second game as FGCU crushed the ball and used a trio of SDSU errors to cruise to a 12-0 win.

The Jacks faced the Eagles of Boston College in the third game of the weekend. The Eagles got on the board early in the first inning. Sam Heinzman walked in the opening of the bottom of the first inning and advanced to second after a sacrifice bunt. Heinzman stole third and scored on a Schwedhelm sacrifice fly, tying the game at 1-1. Broshar walked in the second and scored on a Vineyard triple, giving the Jacks an early 2-1. Boston College rallied in the third to go back on top 5-2, but the Jacks capitalized on a pair of errors to bring Brooke Postma home, bringing the Jacks within two.

Vineyard led off the sixth inning with a single and advanced on a Greta Stroh sac bunt. Heinzman followed up with a single. Brooke loaded the bases on a fielder’s choice, bringing up Schwedhelm, who hit her second sac fly of the game to score Vineyard and make the score 5-4. The Jacks ended the game with runners on second and third base.

SDSU wasted little time in its fourth game of the day, getting ahead of St. Bonaventure. Heinzman kicked off the game with a double. Two batters later, Schwedhelm singled, allowing Heinzman to get to third base with just one out. Broshar walked to load the bases before Brittany Postma singled to score Heinzman and Schwedhelm for a 2-0 Jackrabbit lead. Vineyard hit a two-out single to score Brittany Postma and give SDSU a 3-0 lead in the third.

The Bonnies scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings before the Jacks put the game away with three runs in the seventh. Schwedhelm started the inning with a single, Evans got on after being hit by a pitch. Broshar hit a double, scoring Schwedhelm from second and giving the Jacks a 4-2 lead. Durazo then smacked a triple, scoring Broshar and Evans, which gave the Jackrabbits a comfortable 6-2 lead.

The Jacks wrapped up the tourney against FGCU, again losing 11-0. The loss drops the Jacks to 4-5 on the season, heading into the Tiger Invitational next weekend in Columbia, Mo.

Next, the Jacks will face the University of Missouri Tigers and Boston College. Two double headers are scheduled for Feb. 29 and March 1 at Columbia, Mo.