MACOMB, Ill.—Western Illinois took advantage of three consecutive South Dakota miscues during a five-run third inning and held on to beat South Dakota 6-3 Sunday in the final game of a three-game series at McKee Stadium.

Leatherneck pitcher Kayla Kirkpatrick (5-8) allowed three runs on eight hits in her complete-game effort. She walked two and struck out one.

Leadoff hitter Sammy Marshall had three of Western Illinois' six hits. She stole two bases and scored two runs.

South Dakota (19-23-1, 10-4 Summit) lost in Summit play for the first time in eight games and saw its title hopes fade. The Coyotes enter the final week 2.5 games behind North Dakota State and one game ahead of IUPUI in the Summit League standings. NDSU and IUPUI square off next weekend in Fargo while South Dakota hosts South Dakota State.

The Coyotes scored twice in the top of the first inning, but gave one back in the bottom half. Western Illinois (16-20, 6-9) tied the game at 2-2 in the third on a base hit by Tierney Bottino that scored Marshall. Western Illinois added four more runs – all with two outs – when South Dakota misplayed three consecutive balls in the infield and took a 6-2 lead.

South Dakota had at least one runner on in each of the last four innings, but generated one run off Kirkpatrick. Taylor Steinfeldt's RBI double in the sixth inning scored Katie Cochran for the final run of the day. Kirkpatrick worked through the heart of South Dakota's order in the seventh to earn the win.