University of South Dakota Athletics

When South Dakota opens its 2018 campaign in sunny Arizona Thursday, it will do so with a new and diverse pitching staff. The Coyotes, who ended last season with two hurlers, have six pitchers ready to make their Division I debuts. Four are true freshmen, Alexis Devers is a redshirt freshman and Dustie Durham is a junior college transfer. Who gets the ball on opening day is anyone's guess, but the belief is that each will get a chance to shine.
 
One of the true freshmen, Sarah Lisko, hails from Rochester, Minnesota. She is the only southpaw on staff and the only pitcher who comes from a neighboring state. Lauren King is from Seattle; Breanna Alvarez, who joined the team at the end of the first semester, grew up near Las Vegas; and Devers and Durham are from Arizona. Gill Woodward is from Ile-des-Chenes near Winnipeg in Canada.
 
"We all got along right away," said Lisko. "Alexis and I were always grouped together in the fall because we don't bat, so now coach just calls us 'Disco' (Devers and Lisko), which is fun. I think we have a really good mix and it's nice to know that if you get in a jam, someone is there to pick you up."
 
Lisko first visited USD as a 13-year old camper and loved the DakotaDome right away, but it took a trip to California for her to get on Wagner's radar. He saw her pitch at PGF Nationals and reached out to her club coach. Lisko returned to campus for an official visit and loved it right away.
 
"I had already signed at that point, but it sealed the deal," said Lisko. "I knew the prior team had gotten along so well, and even though many from that team graduated, I figured it would be the same. The seniors this year aren't just team moms, they are our friends. I bet they felt a little like freshmen too at the beginning of the year with so many new players."
 
Just eight players return from last year's 22-win team. Six are starters who return to a batting lineup that hit a Summit-best .306 last year with a league-high .372 on-base percentage. The Coyotes averaged five runs per game last season and were second in the Summit in hits, runs and doubles. Wagner is even predicting more power from its lineup this season. But the team's 5.18 ERA ranked sixth and opponents batted .331. Those numbers will likely have to improve for USD to contend for a title they fell just short of last season.
 
"I know my team and my coaches a lot better and we are all coming together well," said Lisko. "Coach has this saying that we try to get one percent better every day and that's what we have been striving to do."
 
Lisko admits she is not the hardest thrower on staff and will rely more on spins to retire hitters. Devers, Durham and Alvarez, she says, will bring the heat. Lisko and Devers throw the same changeup. Woodward battled some injuries in the fall, but should be ready to go.
 
"We all have different pitches that we are good at," said Lisko. "Some teams may struggle with slower pitching and some may struggle with faster pitching, so I think he's going to throw all of us in there."
 
Kajikawa Classic
Thursday (Feb. 8)
USD vs. Boise State – 12:30 p.m. (CT) | Farrington Stadium | Live Stats
USD vs. San Jose State – 5:45 p.m. (CT) | TSC Field 3 | Live Stats | Live Stream (FloPro)
 
Friday (Feb. 9)
USD vs. UC Davis – 6 p.m. (CT) | TSC Field 3 | Live Stats | Live Stream (FloPro)
 
Saturday (Feb. 10)
USD vs. Notre Dame – 12:30 p.m. (CT) | TSC Field 4 | Live Stats | Live Stream (FloPro)
USD vs. Purdue – 6:15 p.m. (CT) | TSC Field 3 | Live Stats | Live Stream (FloPro)
 
Sunday (Feb. 11)
USD vs. Northwestern – 10 a.m. (CT) | TSC Field 4 | Live Stats | Live Stream (FloPro)