Feb. 10, 2013
USD-ISU box | USD-USU box 
ST. GEORGE, Utah— South Dakota won both of its games on the final day of the Red Desert Classic, beating both Idaho State and Utah State 5-4 in contests that were not decided until the last half-inning of play.
USD left fielder Christine Broders hit a walk-off home run to right center field to lift USD to victory against Idaho State. Broders’ had two at bats in the game, both of which resulted in home runs.
Allie Daly also had a home run and a double for the Coyotes, while Kassie Loe and Morgan Hancock hit both hit doubles. Six of USD’s eight hits went for extra bases.
The Coyotes twice had to rally from deficits against the Bengals. After Idaho State scored three runs in the top of the first inning, Broders came to the plate with runners on second and third and two outs and launched a three-run home run to center field to knot the score at 3-3
South Dakota came to bat in the bottom of the sixth trailing 4-3, but Daly hit a solo shot with one out to bring the game to a tie entering the final inning, setting the stage for Broders’ walk-off.
It was the second consecutive game that USD pitcher Erica Denney allowed multiple runs in the first inning but was able to settle down and allow only one run for the remainder of the contest. Denney surrendered seven hits and four walks while striking out three Bengals.
South Dakota led Utah State 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning, but with Aggies on first and second base the Coyotes brought in freshman pitcher Madison Frain to close things out. Frain struck out the first batter but walked the second, loading the bases with two outs and a one run lead. Frain was able to strike out the game’s final batter to preserve the victory and get credit for the save.
USD scored three runs in the first inning. Lindsey Boyd, the first batter of the game, led off with a home run. Katie Dinning and Katie Cochran followed the home run with back-to-back singles. Utah State pitcher Mandy Harmon struck out the next two batters but then walked Loe, setting up Broders for a bases-loaded single that scored two more runs.
The Coyotes struck again in the second, as Morgan Hancock opened the inning with a single, stole second, and scored on a Cochran double to center field.
The ‘Yotes tacked on their final run of the game in the fourth inning. Daly hit into a fielder’s choice at second base with the bases loaded, scoring Boyd from third on the play.
Boyd, Dinning and Cochran, the first three batters of the USD lineup, combined for five of the team’s seven hits against the Aggies, while Broders’ one hit netted two RBIs.
Missy Blackburn pitched the first 6 1/3 innings for USD in the winning effort. Blackburn allowed six hits, walked three and struck out three. Frain struck out two and walked one to pick up the save.
Broders finished the tournament with five hits, two home runs, six RBIs, an on-base percentage of .533 and a slugging percentage of 1.000, while Dinning had seven hits in 16 at bats for a .438 average. Boyd had three hits, three RBIs and three runs scored.
The Coyotes will resume play at the Southeastern Louisiana Tournament in Hammond, La., next Friday. USD will open against the tournament host, Southeastern Louisiana, at 3 p.m. Friday, and will play five games total from Friday to Sunday.
