CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – South Dakota State rallied for a 6-1 victory over the Drake University softball team Friday night at the UNI-Dome Tournament in the season opener for both teams.
 
Drake (0-1) scored its only run of the game in the first with a bases loaded fielder's choice by freshman Addie Lightner. Sophomore Delaney Taylor, who led off the game drawing a walk, scored on the play.
 
SDSU (1-0) took the lead for good with solo home runs in the second and third innings off Bulldogs' starter Nicole Timmons (0-1).
 
The Jackrabbits grabbed control of the game with three runs in the fourth inning, all coming with two outs as SDSU strung together five straight hits off Timmons.
 
Freshman Emma Richards replaced Timmons in the fifth and allowed one run in the inning after allowing two hits. Richards hit a batter with one out in the sixth but worked around it and finished her debut.
 
Taylor and Macy Johnson had two of the Bulldogs' three hits. Taylor had a two out single in the fifth and Johnson followed with a double to left field but Taylor was thrown out at the plate to end the inning. Freshman Skylar Rigby was the other Bulldog with a hit, getting her first career hit.
 
Drake returns to the field Saturday morning against Butler at 10:15 a.m. and then gets a rematch with SDSU at 2:45 p.m.