TEMPE, Ariz.—UC Davis scored three early runs and freshman pitcher Brooke Yanez made the lead stand in a 3-1 victory against South Dakota during play at Arizona State's Kajikawa Classic Friday. It was the season opener for the Aggies while the Coyotes dropped to 0-3.
 
UC Davis scored once in the first and twice in the second, taking advantage of South Dakota defensive miscues in both innings. Coyote starter Alexis Devers allowed just four singles while pitching into the fifth inning, and Sarah Lisko faced the minimum in getting eight outs in relief, but the damage had been done.
 
Yanez scattered six hits and struck out 11 in her collegiate debut. She came out unscathed after loading the bases with one out in the third, and ditto in the fourth when Taylor Steinfeldt and Jessica Rogers both singled to start the inning. The Coyotes left them loaded again in the sixth and stranded eight runners in all.
 
South Dakota second baseman Alyssa Fernandez caught up to Yanez in the fifth with a home run to right center field that cut the lead to 3-1. That followed Fernandez's two home-run game Thursday night against San Jose State. All three hits for Fernandez this season have been homers.
 
Steinfeldt was 2-for-3 and has tallied two hits in each of the Coyotes' first three games. She is 6-for-10 on the year to pace USD.
 
The Coyotes return to action Saturday to face Notre Dame (12:30 p.m. CT) and Purdue (6:15 p.m. CT) before concluding Sunday against Northwestern (10 a.m. CT).