FORT COLLINS, Colo.—South Dakota softball concluded regular season play Sunday with two games at a tournament hosted by Colorado State. Texas Tech won its rematch against the Coyotes 6-2 in game one, and the host Rams held South Dakota scoreless for the second time in as many days in a 1-0 victory.
The Red Raiders (18-33) took advantage of three errors and scored all six of its runs in the second inning against South Dakota (21-30). Raina O'Neal was 2-for-3 in the game including an RBI triple. Ashley Fultz was also 2-for-3 and had an RBI double in the second.
South Dakota took a 1-0 lead in the first on doubles by
Christy Warnock and
Jessica Rogers.
Emily Winckler added an RBI double in the third to make it 6-2. The Coyotes loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but Texas Tech pitcher Kassidy Scott induced a ground ball double play to end the game.
Scott (10-21) struck out seven against no walks and allowed just six hits.
Megan Green (5-14), who allowed just three hits outside that second inning, took the loss. USD's defense has permitted a total of 21 unearned runs in Green's last five starts.
A lead off triple by Colorado State center fielder Madison Kilcrease in the fourth inning followed by a sacrifice fly by Amber Nelson accounted for the only run in game two. Coyote pitcher
Rachel Cue pitched a four-hitter, but suffered her first loss in nearly a month. Cue (11-9) had won her previous seven decisions. Since April 8, she is 8-2 with a 2.33 ERA.
South Dakota loaded the bases against the Rams (27-20) with one out in the top of the sixth, but CSU pitcher Bridgette Hutton got a 5-2-3 double play to get out of it. Hutton (9-8) allowed six hits and struck out three.
Warnock was 3-for-5 in the two games Sunday with two doubles and two runs scored. In two days at CSU, she was 6-for-11 with four doubles and three runs scored. Winckler was also 6-for-11 for the tourney. Both batters have hit safely in their last five.
Seven of the Coyotes' nine starters finished the regular season with a batting average of .300 or better. Sophomore catcher
Jessica Rogers leads the team with a .343 mark, which ranks fourth in the Summit.
South Dakota to face Omaha at Summit League Tournament
South Dakota will be the No. 4 seed at next week's Summit League Tournament in Fargo, N.D., and will face fifth-seeded Omaha in an elimination game at 3 p.m. Wednesday from the Ellig Sports Complex. The winner will face top-seeded IUPUI at noon Thursday.
