SAN DIEGO—South Dakota's pitching improved from the opening weekend, but runs were hard to come by Friday against 22^nd-ranked Cal and San Diego State – two NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago – on the Coyotes' first day at SDSU's Campbell/Cartier Classic. Cal beat South Dakota 8-1 Friday morning and San Diego State won 2-1 Friday evening.
 
Cal sophomore pitcher Kristin Cullen (1-0) allowed four hits and struck out nine in her complete-game effort against the Coyotes. USD starter Rachel Cue matched Cullen for four innings before giving up a two-run homer to Lindsay Rood as part of a three-run fifth inning for the Bears (4-1). Rood was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
 
Cal center fielder Krysten McCue added a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth that stretched the lead to 7-1. Nine of the Bears' 12 hits came in their final two at bats.
 
South Dakota (0-7) scored a run on two hits and two illegal pitches by Cullen in the top of the first. Christy Warnock singled and came around to score. Brooke Curtis was 1-for-1 with a walk in two at bats.
 
An unearned run in the top of the seventh inning was the difference in the nightcap against San Diego State (4-3). Aztec starter Ashley Ercolano, who started the game in the circle, but finished as the designated player, reached on an error to start the final inning. She was bunted to second and scored the go-ahead run on Katie Byrd's base hit to right field.
 
South Dakota starter Madison Frain (0-2) pitched up to Byrd's RBI single. Frain allowed five hits and struck out two against a lineup that returned five starters from last year's tournament team. She had retired 13 of her last 14 batters entering the seventh inning.
 
Curtis tied the game at 1-1 with an RBI single through the left side in the bottom of the fourth inning for the Coyotes. She was hit by a pitch to start the seventh and replaced by pinch runner Taylor Steinfeldt. Jessica Rogers moved Steinfeldt to second on a pinch-hit single off Aztec reliever Erica Romero, an all-region pitcher who led the nation in wins (36), appearances (56) and innings pitched (318.2) last season.
 
Romero got the second out of the inning on a fielder's choice to shortstop Samantha Camello, who threw to third to force Steinfeldt. That set up a two-out, two-on matchup against South Dakota all-region first baseman Yvon Minogue.
 
Minogue sent a ball to the hole on the left side deep enough that Warnock, who pinch ran for Rogers, tried to score from second base. She was tagged out in a run down between third and home for the final out of the game.
 
South Dakota out-hit San Diego State 7-5. Romero recorded four outs to improve to 3-0 on the season. The Coyotes take on 18^th-ranked Kentucky at 11 a.m. CST Saturday and San Diego at 4 p.m.