University of South Dakota Athletics

It is the final weekend before the start of Summit League play and the Coyote softball team (16-12) is in Macon, Georgia, for the Mercer Bears Classic. South Dakota is set to play two games Friday evening and two more on Saturday before returning home Sunday.
 
USD is coming off its toughest stretch of the season, a Spring Break trip that featured 13 games in 10 days and three nationally-ranked teams. Highlighting the trip was the Coyotes' 6-4 win over 23^rd-ranked Michigan on Saturday in Tempe, Arizona. It was the program's second win against a top-25 foe in as many seasons.
 
The Coyotes are led by the Summit's top hitter in senior Jamie Holscher, who leads the league in homers (7) and RBIs (29) while maintaining a .405 average. Fellow senior Dustie Durham is hitting .344 with six doubles, three triples and four home runs. She is also tied for the team lead with six wins in the circle. Durham, Alexis Devers (6-6) and Sarah Lisko (3-1) have each pitched in at least 15 games this year and each carries a sub-4.00 ERA.
 
A look at the schedule along with a quick look at the opponents follows below. Note that this is a revised schedule updated Friday due to weather.
 
Friday, March 15
USD at Connecticut | 6 p.m. (ET) | Live Stats
USD vs. Ball State | 8:15 p.m. (ET) | Live Stats
 
Saturday, March 16
USD vs. Connecticut | 6 p.m. (ET) | Live Stats
USD vs. Cleveland State | 8:15 p.m. (ET) | Live Stats
 
Connecticut (4-12)
The Huskies won their first three games of the season including a win against Michigan State, but have lost 12 of 13 since. UCONN is a defensive minded team led by a trio of returning pitchers. Marybeth Olson has a 2.18 ERA and 41 strikeouts against seven walks in 35 innings. Jill Stockley was a 10-game winner last year, but is 1-6 with a 6.26 ERA to begin this season. Offensively, the team averaged fewer than three runs per game a year ago and still managed 20 wins. This year, the Huskies have totaled 39 runs in 16 games and are hitting .215 as a team with a .280 slugging percentage. Briana Marcelino was the team's leading hitter last year as a freshman. This year, she leads with a .313 average which includes four doubles.
 
Ball State (18-9)
The Cardinals enter play riding a season-long six-game win streak that included four shutout victories. Pitching has been the key for Ball State all season. The team has five capable arms, each with an ERA under 4.00, who have combined to pitch nine shutouts. They even have a closer in junior Alyssa Rothwell who has eight saves in 14 appearances and 18 2/3 innings. Ball State is batting just .214 as a team, but the Cardinals do have 19 home runs. Junior Janae Hogg is hitting .286 with six homers and 15 RBIs.
 
Cleveland State (5-13)
The Vikings won back-to-back games to conclude play last weekend in Florida. Junior Kelly Hysong has become the focal point both offensively and defensively for the team. She is batting a team-high .389 with eight doubles, six home runs and 15 RBIs. In the circle, she has eight starts and a team-leading 31 strikeouts to go with a 2-4 record and 5.87 ERA. Freshman Hanna Griffin is 3-6 with a 4.78 ERA in 48 innings of work. Sophomore Lindsay Ward has five of the team's eight steals.