BROOKINGS — The South Dakota State baseball team improved to 14-16 on Tuesday afternoon as the Jackrabbits beat Northwestern (Iowa) 8-1 at Erv Huether Field.

Northwestern scored a run on a groundout in the top of the first but the Jacks kept them off the board the rest of the game.

SDSU tied the game in the bottom of the first. Jess Bellows was hit by a pitch with one out and advanced to third on a double from Cael Frost. He then scored on a passed ball to make it 1-1 heading into the second.

The Jacks then struck for three runs in the bottom of the second. Bryce Ronken walked to lead off the inning and Benes was hit by a pitch. Matthew Werk then came to the plate with two outs and hit one over the left field fence to make it 4-1 heading into the third.

SDSU extended its lead to 6-1 in the third inning. Frost walked to lead off the inning and Dawson Parry and Cade Stuff were each hit by pitches to load the bases up. Frost would score on a sacrifice fly from Ronken and Benes singled to send Parry home.

Neither team scored the next four innings. The Jacks then added two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. Ronken led off the inning with a single and came around to score on a single from Werk. Thatcher Kozal then hit an RBI single to make it 8-1 heading into the ninth.

Will Kent got the start for the Jacks and he picked up the victory. He pitched the first five innings and gave up one earned run on three hits with six strikeouts and three walks. Alex Koep pitched one shutout inning and had two strikeouts and a walk. Jack Kruger pitched two innings and gave up no runs on two hits with two strikeouts and no walks. Sam Sclecht pitched the final inning and struck out all three batters.

SDSU will play a three-game series at Omaha this weekend.