Fresh off its best opening weekend of the Division I era, and best record thru five games since 1999, Coyote softball (4-1) is in Madeira Beach, Florida, where the team will play its next 10 games – five this weekend and five next weekend.
South Dakota enters play Friday on a four-game winning streak and will try to keep it going against Quinnipiac (11:30 a.m. ET) and George Mason (2 p.m. ET). The full tournament schedule is below. Live stats will be provided for all five games:
Friday
USD vs. Quinnipiac (0-0) | 11:30 a.m. (ET) |
Live Stats
USD vs. George Mason (0-3) | 2 p.m. (ET) |
Live Stats
Saturday
USD vs. Drexel (0-0) | 4:30 p.m. (ET) |
Live Stats
USD vs. Murray State (0-5) | 7 p.m. (ET) |
Live Stats
Sunday
USD vs. Central Arkansas (3-2) | 9 a.m. (ET) |
Live Stats
South Dakota is facing each opponent for the first time. Four of the teams were 20-game winners last year. Central Arkansas, Sunday's foe, had the best RPI of the bunch a season ago at 139.
First week success
South Dakota outscored teams 50-14 last weekend in South Carolina. The Coyotes avenged a 4-3 loss to Dayton in the season opener by whooping the Flyers 18-0 the next day. USD also rallied from three runs down in the final inning to complete a weekend sweep of Charleston Southern, 8-6.
Durham Named Player of the Week
Senior
Dustie Durham highlighted the opening week by going 9-for-18 at the plate with a double two triples and a grand slam home run, and by winning three games in the circle. She pitched 17 2/3 innings in all and allowed five runs while striking out eight.
Everybody Hits
Just eight teams cranked out more hits on opening weekend than South Dakota's 55. Ten Coyotes had at least three hits. Durham and
Jamie Holscher led the way with nine hits each, which tied for 16
th nationally.
Lauren Wobken and
Ashtyn Blakeman hit six hits each.
Fun With Numbers
USD:
-averaged 10 runs per game last week, ninth-best nationally
-hit .377 as a team, 18
th-best nationally
-turned four doubles plays, sixth-most nationally
-had four triples, second-most nationally
Individually:
-Durham had two triples, third-most nationally
-Durham won three games, fifth-most nationally
-Holscher hit .600 (9-for-15), 32
nd-best nationally
-Holscher & Durham had nine hits, t-16
th-most nationally
Here is a look at the week two opponents:
Quinnipiac (22-29, 9-11 MAAC, 225 RPI)
The Bobcats are under the direction of first-year coach Hillary Barrow, a UCF alum who spent the last two years as an assistant at Florida International. Barrow's roster includes eight returners and eight newcomers. Ace pitcher Casey Herzog is gone, but Kendall Brundrett (4-9, 5.34 ERA) and Abbey Long (0-9, 8.71 ERA) return and the Bobcats added freshman Brooklyn Maguire. Six bats are back headlined by senior outfielder Erin Larsen, an all-conference performer who hit .345 while leading the team with 8 home runs, 29 RBIs and 30 runs scored.
George Mason (22-28, 12-10 Atlantic 10, 213 RPI)
The Patriots were shut out 22-0 in three games last week, but the opponents were Ohio State, Ole Miss and UCF. The pitching staff is back for veteran coach Joe Verbanic including Bekah Ansbro, a junior who struck out 127 in 140 innings of work last year while posting a 2.79 ERA. Jess Curbeira is the senior leader who hit .307 with three homers and 24 RBIs in 2018. Sophomore Adriana Erickson hit .277 with a team-best five home runs. Alyssa Lawton and Madison Aker return speed to the tune of 21 combined steals last season.
Drexel (21-29-2, 3-18 CAA, 241 RPI)
The Dragons are another team starting its season this weekend. Drexel returns nearly its entire squad from last season, a group that hit .314 with 44 home runs, but paired with a pitching staff that turned in a 5.17 ERA and 142 strikeouts in 324 innings. Katie Haley, a pitcher that was third on the team in innings (100) but posted the most wins (8) is the only player missing from 2018. First baseman Kristi DiMeo is a preseason all-America candidate after hitting .399 with 16 home runs and 57 RBIs as a freshman last season. Teammate Linda Rush backed her up with a .388 average, 13 homers and 55 RBIs
Murray State (16-36, 6-16 OVC, 210 RPI)
The Racers are 0-5 but were competitive against tough competition in No. 9 Alabama (twice), Maryland (twice) and Troy last week. Murray State returns a plethora of offense but lost 11-game winner Haven Campbell, the ace of last year's staff. Freshman right-hander Hannah James took the ball three times on opening weekend. She opened with a tough start against Alabama, but was solid in one-run losses to Troy and Maryland. Amongst seven starting bats, the Racers feature all-conference catcher Lillie Goetz who hit .303 and led the OVC by throwing out 15 would-be base stealers.
Central Arkansas (29-27, 16-11 Southland, 139 RPI)
The Bears are picked to finish third in the Southland, but are coming off a 7-6 loss against Lyon (NAIA) in their home debut Tuesday to fall to 3-2 on the young year. Central Arkansas lost two of its top four bats, but the rest of the squad remains intact. Senior Libby Morris was the team's top slugger a year ago with a .338 average, six home runs and 37 RBIs. The trio of Morgan Felts (.283), Kayla Crutchmer (.275) and Oakley Sisemore (.257) combined to steal 69 bases last season. Rio Sanchez (8-7, 2.77 ERA, 40 strikeouts) was the ace of a staff that turned in a 3.38 ERA.
