Coyotes break 10-game losing streak over weekend

The University of South Dakota softball team was swept in a double-header Monday during the teams trip to the University of California-Santa Barbara, falling to 12-23 on the season.

Suffering 4-1 losses in both matchups, the Coyotes struggled to produce meaningful offense.

During the first game, sophomore Kate Snow led the team with two hits on three at bats. While trailing 4-0, Snow drove in the Coyotes’ only run of the game when she doubled in the seventh inning.

Sophomore Kassie Loe scored the one run for the Coyotes and teammates senior Mel Johnson, junior Alexa Rudeen and freshman Christine Broders chipped in a hit each.

Johnson gave up three earned runs and had three strikeouts to six walks in the loss. UCSB were able to get seven base hits on Johnson in six innings pitched.

UCSB, 15-18, got all the offense they needed when two runs came across home plate. They added runs in the fifth and sixth innings as well.

In the second of the two games, things didn’t get any better for the Coyotes offensively. As was the case in game one, South Dakota was out hit by the UCSB 7-5, and left 10 runners on base, failing over and over again to come up with the big hit.

USD did score first though after freshman Lindsey Boyd, who had one hit in the game, reached base on an error and was moved to second after a bunt base hit by junior Stephanie Hall. Johnson hit a shot to left field, singling and driving in the run.

But the Coyotes were unable to score another run in the inning or the game.

Sophomore Erica Denney recorded the loss as she allowed four runs, three earned. Denney had two strike outs and one walk.

The Monday games capped a six-game California roadtrip for USD where they were swept by UCSB and lost two of three to Cal State-Bakersfield.

The Coyotes will travel to Minneapolis, Minn. Saturday to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The doubleheader begins at 1 p.m.