A good win for South Dakota State and a tough loss for South Dakota as the two Summit League softball teams competed in day one of the National Invitational Softball Championship in Ames, Iowa.
South Dakota State opened its NISC run with an 8-6 victory Thursday over Eastern Kentucky.
The Jackrabbits (37-17) tallied nine hits, including three home runs, and held off a hard-charging Colonel squad in the seventh to advance in the Ames Regional.
South Dakota hung by a thread all game and Purdue finally cut it with a game-tying run in the seventh and the winning run in the eighth in a 4-3 decision Thursday in the opening game of the NISC regional at Cyclone Sports Complex.
South Dakota State will take on Iowa State Friday at 1 p.m. in its second game. Iowa State beat Purdue 6-1.
South Dakota will face Eastern Kentucky, at 10 a.m. Friday.
