University of South Dakota Athletics

South Dakota softball (7-3) is off to its best start since 2009 and returns to Madeira Beach, Florida, for five more games at R.O.C Park starting Friday afternoon against Albany (1:30 p.m. ET). The Great Danes are one of two 2018 NCAA tournament teams on the docket this weekend. The other is Middle Tennessee State (Sunday, 11:30 a.m.). Purdue of the Big Ten is also on the slate.
 
The Coyotes have faced each of the five opponents in recent seasons. Purdue topped USD 11-2 on opening weekend last season in Arizona, the Coyotes beat Cornell 14-2 in Florida in 2017, MTSU won a 1-0 contest against USD in 2016, and Albany won head-to-head meetings in 2015 and 2014. Just last week, South Dakota beat Drexel 11-8 in extra innings.
 
Here is this week's schedule:
 
Friday
USD vs. Albany (0-0) | 1:30 p.m. (ET) | Live Stats
USD vs. Cornell (0-0) | 6:30 p.m. (ET) | Live Stats
 
Saturday
USD vs. Purdue (3-4) | 4 p.m. (ET) | Live Stats
USD vs. Drexel (0-5) | 6:30 p.m. (ET) | Live Stats
 
Sunday
USD vs. Middle Tennessee State (5-5) | 11:30 a.m. (ET) | Live Stats
 
Offense shines thru two weeks
South Dakota ranks 12^th nationally in batting average (.362) and 14^th in scoring (7.9 rpg) thru two weeks. The Coyotes have scored at least eight runs in six of its 10 games and registered double-digit hits five times. Seniors Dustie Durham and Jamie Holscher lead the Summit in hitting with averages of .528 and .485, respectively. Four other Coyotes are hitting .300 or better.
 
Holscher named Player of the Week
Holscher hit three-run homers in three consecutive games last week and totaled 11 RBIs in being named Summit Player of the Week. She is the second Coyote to earn the award this season, following Durham in week one. Holscher leads the Summit and ranks seventh nationally with 16 RBIs this season.
 
Five pitchers have been given the ball
Alexis Devers went 13 2/3 innings before giving up her first run this season and has a 2-1 record in four starts. Durham has logged a team-high 26 innings and pitched in seven games as has Sarah Lisko. Freshman Grace Garcia made her collegiate debut last weekend and pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings. Gill Woodward made her 2019 debut against Murray State Saturday and logged eight outs against one run.
 
Streaks
Durham has hit safely in all 10 games this season and has seven multi-hit games. Durham, Holscher and Alyssa Fernandez have reached base safely in all 10 games. Holscher has reached base in 12 straight dating back to last season.
 
Here is a look at the week three opponents:
 
Albany (32-16, 13-4 America East, 134 RPI)
The Great Danes are the two-time defending America East champions and are picked to win the league again this year, and for good reason. Albany returns all but one bat to its lineup and its top two pitchers from a year ago including senior Celeste Verdolivo (16-3, 2.07 ERA), the 2018 America East Pitcher of the Year. All-conference catcher Chelsea Henige hit .358 with four home runs and 27 RBIs a year ago. Senior outfielder Sarah Petzold hit .298 with seven homers and a team-high 35 RBIs. The Great Danes are making their 2019 debut this weekend in Florida. They play North Florida Friday before taking on USD in game two.
 
Cornell (15-25, 10-11 Ivy League, 259 RPI)
The Big Red are also making their season debut this weekend. Cornell returns its top two pitchers from a team that placed fifth in the Ivy last season, but returns just two of its top six hitters. All-Ivy shortstop Erin Rockstroh hit a team-best .410 last year with eight doubles. Junior Kate Jencarelli hit .323 with five doubles, three homers and 22 RBIs. Junior pitchers Lisa Nelson (7-6, 3.74 ERA) and Katie Lew (7-10, 4.62 ERA) combined to start 31 of 40 games last year. Nelson had 76 punch outs in 82 innings. Cornell attempted four steals all season and was successful just once. In the last three years combined, The Big Red are 14-for-25 in stolen bases (123 games).
 
Purdue (16-40, 7-15 Big Ten, 174 RPI)
The Boilermakers are 3-4 after two weeks of play with some solid wins and tough losses. Senior Kaitlynn Moody (7-18, 4.18 ERA in 2018) and sophomore Sydney Bates (8-19, 4.76 ERA) are back in the circle and Purdue has given two starts to freshmen hurler Alex Echazarreta. Five hitters are batting better than .375 thru two weekends, though 44 of the team's 54 hits have been singles. Senior infielder Jenny Behan is one of those players. She led the Boilers with a .309 average, seven homers and 30 RBIs last season.
 
Drexel (21-29-2, 3-18 CAA, 241 RPI)
The Dragons went 0-5 to start their season last week in Florida, including the 11-8, extra-inning loss to the Coyotes. They are a team that returned nearly everyone from last year's squad which hit .314 with 44 home runs, but also had a 5.17 staff ERA. Preseason All-America candidate Kristi DiMeo was 5-for-16 (.313) in her 2019 debut with two home runs and three RBIs. Linda Rush, who hit .388 with 13 homers last year, was 3-for-5 with two homers and five RBIs in the loss to USD.
 
Middle Tennessee State (39-22, 11-11 C-USA, 104 RPI)
The Raiders won the Conference USA Tournament a year ago as the No. 6 seed, becoming the lowest seed to claim the C-USA crown, and qualified for the NCAA tournament for the second time. MTSU returns its No. 2 pitcher and four of its top eight bats for this season. The Raiders are off to a 5-5 start against quality competition. Amber Baldwin, who went 10-8 in 18 starts a year ago, has a 2.89 ERA thru 18 2/3 innings of work. Junior infielder Summer Burgess, who hit .366 with 20 steals, is back as is all-league first baseman Lexi Cushing, who set a single-season record with 14 home runs last season.