USD softball takes home four wins after weekend in Texas
A rain delay Saturday forced the Coyote softball team’s game against Wichita State back a day, but it didn’t stop the Coyotes from upsetting the No. 25 Shockers in Huntsville, Texas Sunday afternoon.
The win capped off a 4-1 weekend for the Coyotes to open their 2021 season. Sunday’s win over Wichita State is also head coach Robert Wagner’s 100th career win.
The Coyotes put freshman Clara Edwards, a pitcher from the state of Kansas, in the circle to start the game. Edwards did not allow an earned run in over 19 innings pitched over the weekend, including a complete game shutout Sunday.
Edwards held a Shocker lineup that featured a National Player of the Year candidate and a hitter with 22 home runs last season at the top of the lineup. The two combined to go 1-for-6 with a single against Edwards.
Tied going into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Coyotes had two-runners on base. Spring, Texas native and senior infielder Jadyn DeWitte cracked a three-run home run to give USD a 3-0 lead. DeWitte’s family was in attendance as it was the first time the senior had played near her hometown.
The win gave USD a 4-1 weekend highlighted by performances from a pair of newcomers.
Recaps from the other four games below:
South Dakota 6, Houston Baptist 0
A pair of first inning home runs led USD to a 6-0 win over Houston Baptist Friday in their season opener.
Sophomore catcher Bela Goerke, a transfer playing in her first game as a Coyote, hit a three-run home run in the first inning, driving in three runs. Junior catcher Jordyn Pender followed up Goerke, hitting a solo home run.
Fifth-year infielder Lauren Eamiguel, senior outfielder Courtney Wilson, junior outfielder Charis Black, senior outfielder Gabbi Holbert and junior infielder Aleesia Sainz added base hits.
Edwards pitched a complete game shutout, going seven innings and striking out four.
Sam Houston State 9, South Dakota 8
A three-run bottom of the sixth inning boosted Sam Houston State to a 9-8 win on their home field Friday night.
Goerke tallied three hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs for the Coyotes. Sainz also added a three-run home run in the first inning. Pender tallied two hits and scored twice. Eamiguel tallied one hit and one RBI. Freshman infielder Tatum Villotta recorded a hit and Wilson drove in a run.
Senior Grace Garcia pitched three innings, giving up three runs. Sophomore Macy Schroedermeier pitched one inning allowing two hits and an earned run. Junior Holly Fletcher pitched two-thirds of an inning in relief for Schroedermeier. Edwards finished the game for USD, giving up three unearned runs in the loss.
South Dakota 8, Dayton 2
A six-run fifth inning boosted South Dakota to an 8-2 win over Dayton Saturday morning in a game that had to battle rainy conditions.
Both Goerke and Villotta tallied two hits and two RBI for USD. Sainz also contributed with one hit and two RBI. Pender recorded two hits and one RBI in the win.
Garcia tallied five innings pitched, giving up two runs in the win. Edwards pitched the final two innings in relief.
South Dakota 4, UT San Antonio 3
Goerke hit her third home run of the weekend in the Coyotes’ 4-3 win over UTSA Sunday morning.
Goerke hit a three-run home run for USD. Sainz tallied a base hit and drove in the winning run.
Garcia started the game, going five innings and striking out five in the win. Edwards recorded her first save of the season, pitching the final two innings, striking out five of the seven batters she faced.
The Coyotes will now turn their focus to the Furman Classic in Greenville, South Carolina this coming weekend. The Coyotes will see Georgetown and Furman once. They will also see Saint Francis which they will play twice.
