CHARLESTON, S.C.—South Dakota softball rebounded from a tough opening-game loss to beat previously unbeaten and tournament host Charleston Southern Friday on the Coyotes' first day of the 2019 season. Dayton downed USD 4-3 in nine innings in the opener before the Coyotes earned an 8-2 win against the Buccaneers.
 
South Dakota senior pitcher Dustie Durham went 5-for-8 on the day with two triples, a double and four RBIs. She also tossed a complete game against Charleston Southern (2-1), scattering eight hits and striking out six.
 
It was also an impressive debut for freshman Jadyn DeWitte who was in line to be the hero against Dayton (2-1). DeWitte singled in her first collegiate at bat, drew a walk in her second, and delivered an RBI double in her third that gave USD a 3-1 lead against the Flyers heading into the seventh inning.
 
USD sophomore pitcher Sarah Lisko drew the opening-game assignment and took a three-hitter into the seventh inning. All three hits had come back in the second inning. But an error and a hit by pitch put the tying runs on and Megan Gist brought them home with a two-out, game-tying double that just got past Coyote left fielder Ashtyn Blakeman. The hit ended an 0-for-17 streak against Lisko by the Flyers.
 
Dayton outfielder Kelly Fitzgerald led off the top of the ninth with a double off Durham, who had just relieved Lisko, and came around to score on a ground ball out later in the inning. Jessica Gilliam got the final three outs in the bottom of the ninth to give the Flyers the victory.
 
Lisko allowed four hits in eight innings and struck out four against no walks. Blakeman was 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored. Alyssa Fernandez and Durham gave USD a 2-1 lead back in the third with back-to-back doubles.
 
USD used a three-run fifth to take a 5-1 lead against Charleston Southern in the nightcap. Durham had an RBI single, Jessica Rogers hit a sacrifice fly to right, and Jamie Holscher delivered a two-out RBI. Shortstop Lauren Eamiguel tacked on two more insurance runs in the seventh with a base hit to center.
 
Durham worked out of several jams to preserve the lead. She got a double-play ball in the first to get out of a two-on, no-out jam. Blakeman and third baseman Lauren Wobken helped throw out a runner at third to get out of a similar jam in the third. The Buccaneers also had two on in the fourth and sixth innings before Durham turned them away.
 
South Dakota will get a rematch with Dayton at 9 a.m. (ET) Saturday morning before taking on Maryland Eastern Shore in game two. The tournament concludes Sunday when USD goes for the sweep of Charleston Southern.