University of South Dakota Athletics

Note: Check back often for updates to this weekend's schedule. The forecast calls for rain and thunderstorms.
**UPDATE** - USD will play Missouri State Friday morning at 9 a.m. instead of 11 a.m. due to travel issues for UMass Lowell

South Dakota softball has left the desert and headed south to compete in five games at a three-day tournament hosted by Louisiana Tech in Ruston starting Friday. The Coyotes will be joined by five other teams, each from a different conference, that hope their early records aren't indicative of what is to come in 2018. Highlighting the list are the host Lady Techsters, an NCAA tournament team last year, whom the Coyotes will face in the second game of Friday's slate.
 
Lady Techster Softball Complex, which will host the tournament, is an all-turf surface that should feel more like home where the Coyotes practice inside the DakotaDome during cold weather. USD has had a tough start defensively thru two weeks as it breaks in a new infield. Opponents have totaled 29 unearned runs thru 11 games.
 
Pitching improved from week one to week two as highlighted by Dustie Durham's three-hitter in the team's win against New Mexico. Durham tossed 17 of the team's 31 innings in Las Vegas last weekend and had 11 strikeouts. Alexis Devers earned two starts and Sarah Lisko made four appearances, totaling six innings.
 
Offensively, junior transfer Alyssa Fernandez continues to introduce herself. She hit .538 (7-for-13) with a home run last week and earned her second consecutive Summit League Player of the Week award. Fernandez leads the conference in nearly every statistical category including hits (13), runs (5) and home runs (5). Her .448 average ranks second and 10 RBIs are one behind teammate Emily Winckler.
 
South Dakota had 10 batters register two or more hits last weekend. Fernandez led the way, but Winckler's five hits included three doubles and a home run, her fourth of the young season. Christy Warnock got going with four hits including a double. Durham also took her first swings last week, going 2-for-9 with two doubles and two RBIs.
 
Jamie Holscher missed a few games last week following an injury, but head coach Robert Wagner expects her to return to the lineup soon. Holscher is batting .348 with two home runs and seven runs scored.
 
Here is a look at this week's opponents:
 
Missouri State (4-5 this year; 23-26 last year)
The Bears' record includes a split with Omaha and losses to Kansas (2) and Mississippi State. The team's best win to date is a 1-0 decision against Lamar last weekend in San Antonio and pitching has been the team's strength. The entire staff is back including seniors Holly Kelley (2-1, 2.38 ERA) and Kaitlin Beason (0-3, 3.23 ERA), and has added freshman Steffany Dickerson (1-1, 2.06 ERA) who has allowed seven runs on 10 hits through 17 innings. Offensively, another freshman, Daphne Plummer, is batting .500 (14-for-28) with three doubles and a triple thru nine games. All-region senior outfielder Erika Velasquez Zimmer is hitting .414 (12-for-29) and has stolen six bases.
 
Louisiana Tech (5-7 this year, 36-24 last year)
Don't let the record fool you, Louisiana Tech is picked to win the 12-team Conference USA after advancing to the NCAA Tournament a year ago. The Lady Techsters return seven positional starters and four pitchers with six all-conference performers in the mix. La Tech has faced LSU, Oregon State, James Madison (twice) and Long Beach State in early season play. They have hit just .215 to start 2018 with junior outfielder Morgan Turkoly batting a team-high .350 (14-for-40) with three doubles. Pitcher Preslee Gallaway (2-2, 2.68 ERA) was a 16-game winner a year ago and Krystal De La Cruz (0-4, 4.47 ERA) was 13-4 with a 2.01 ERA in 35 appearances.
 
Alcorn State (1-5 this year, 16-31 last year)
The Braves won the SWAC East Division last year and are picked to finish second in the division this season. The team returns four starting position players including senior first baseman Taylor Hughes, the 2017 SWAC Player of the Year after batting .404 with 17 doubles, two home runs and 37 RBIs. Senior Mariah Ortiz is an all-conference performer who is 8-for-20 (.400) thru six games. Senior Robin Harrison was the ace last year, going 6-9 with a 4.77 ERA. Junior college transfer Paige Taylor started two games on opening weekend in Mississippi.
 
Saint Louis (1-4 this year, 25-25 last year)
The Billikens were off last week after starting 2018 in Peoria, Illinois. Saint Louis split with Miami (Ohio) and lost to Bradley, Western Illinois and nationally-ranked Washington to begin the season. Senior Allie Macfarlane is the team's top returner and the program's all-time leader in RBIs with 135. She hit .354 a year ago with eight home runs and 50 RBIs. Newcomer Sadie Wise hit .412 (7-for-17) and scored seven times in five games on opening weekend. The Billikens return all three pitchers including senior ace Maddie Baalman who went 15-13 last season with 129 strikeouts and a 2.83 ERA in 34 appearances.
 
UMass Lowell (0-5 this year, 21-19 last year)
The River Hawks have successfully completed the transition from Division II to Division I and are eligible for postseason play for the first time. They are picked to finish second in the America East Conference by the league coaches. The team opened in Florida last weekend and were winless against foes that included Missouri and nationally-ranked Tennessee. UMass Lowell returns all but two starters including 2017 America East Rookie of the Year Courtney Cashman who led the league with a .430 average. Senior Vanessa Cooper was a first-team all-conference performer after batting .326 with two home runs. Junior Kaysee Talcik returns to the circle after going 8-10 with a 3.59 ERA and 85 strikeouts last season. She is joined this year by freshmen Katelyn Ellard and Lovina Capria.
 
Louisiana Tech Invitational
All games are being played on La Tech's home field at Lady Techster Softball Complex, an all-turf playing surface. You can watch each game live through La Tech's online platform of CUSATV.com, which is subscription based: $6.95 for 24 hours; $10.95 for a recurring monthly subscription (be sure to cancel this subscription once the tournament concludes).
 
Friday (Feb. 23)
USD vs. Missouri State – 9 a.m. | Watch ($) | Live Stats
USD vs. Louisiana Tech – 3 p.m. | Watch ($) | Live Stats
 
Saturday (Feb. 24)
USD vs. Alcorn State – 1 p.m. | Watch ($) | Live Stats
USD vs. Saint Louis – 3 p.m. | Watch ($) | Live Stats
 
Sunday (Feb. 25)
USD vs. UMass Lowell – 9 a.m. | Watch ($) | Live Stats