MEMPHIS, Tenn.—South Dakota utility player Jessica Rogers hit a grand slam in game one and two solo home runs in game two in leading the Coyotes to a pair of wins to begin play at the Tiger Classic hosted by Memphis. USD shutout Eastern Michigan 6-0 and topped SIUE 4-1.
 
Rogers was 3-for-5 with a walk and six RBIs during the twin bill. She hit her third, fourth and fifth home runs of the season and stands with 15 bombs in her collegiate career.
 
South Dakota (10-19) got outstanding pitching performances from Dustie Durham in game one and from Sarah Lisko is game two. Both pitchers went the distance. Durham (6-6) allowed just three hits and struck out seven in tossing her second shutout of the season. Lisko (4-6) allowed six hits and struck out three to get past SIUE.
 
Rogers' grand slam came in the first inning against Eastern Michigan. Ashtyn Blakeman added some insurance in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run single that made it 6-0.
 
Rogers broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning against SIUE ace Emily Ingles with her second home run of the day. The Cougars answered back with a leadoff home run from Zoe Schafer in the bottom of the inning, but Christy Warnock gave South Dakota the lead for good with a two-run homer off Ingles in the top of the fifth. Rogers' second home run in as many at bats made it 4-1 in the sixth.
 
SIUE loaded the bases with out in the bottom of the seventh, but Lisko got Abby Marlow for the second out and got two-time all-OVC outfielder Alyssa Heren to fly out to center for the final out of the game. Heren finished 1-for-4.
 
In addition to Rogers, South Dakota got three hits Saturday from Camille Fowler. Warnock finished 2-for-3 and reached base four times in five plate appearances.
 
South Dakota concludes play at the tournament by taking on Southeast Missouri State at 8 a.m. Sunday.