MACON, Ga.—South Dakota softball dropped its first two games at a tournament hosted at Mercer University, losing 8-0 to Connecticut and 10-4 to Ball State.
 
The losses drop USD to 16-14 on the year. The Coyotes will get a rematch with UConn Saturday (6 p.m. ET) before taking on Cleveland State in the nightcap (8:15 p.m. ET).
 
The Huskies (5-12) rode the arm of pitcher Marybeth Olson to a five-inning win. She took a two-hitter into the final inning and survived a bases-loaded jam, aided by an error, in the fifth. Olson struck out five and walked no one.
 
Carlie Cutler delivered a three-run homer to cap a five-run fourth inning for UConn. Four of those runs were unearned. Shortstop Briana Marcelino delivered the winning run with an RBI single in the fifth.
 
South Dakota came to life in the fourth inning of game two when third baseman Lauren Wobken belted a three-run homer to left that tied Ball State at 4-4. It was the sixth home run of the season for Wobken, who had three of the Coyotes' eight hits Friday.
 
The Cardinals (19-10) answered with back-to-back home runs in the fifth from Amaia Daniel and Mackenzie McCarty that put Ball State in front 7-4. Stacy Payton made it 10-4 with a bases-clearing double in the sixth.
 
Tieghan Morio relieved Ball State starter Sarah Venker in the fifth and retired nine of the 10 batters she faced to close the game.