MACON, Ga.—It was a mixed bag for South Dakota softball on day two of a tournament hosted by Mercer University. The Coyotes were bested by Connecticut and pitcher Marybeth Olson for the second day in a row, this time by a 7-0 score. USD rebounded to crush Cleveland State 9-0 in five innings in the nightcap.
 
The win moves South Dakota to 17-15 on the year, which equals the program's win total from last season. Lauren Eamiguel hit a three-run homer in the third inning against Cleveland State and Ashtyn Blakeman and Jessica Rogers went back-to-back in the fourth. It was the third home run of the season for both Eamiguel and Rogers, and the first as a Coyote for Blakeman.
 
Dustie Durham took care of the rest. She tossed a two-hit shutout, her second shutout of the season and fifth complete game. Durham allowed a single in the third and one in the fifth and that was it. She struck out two and walked one to earn her seventh win of the season.
 
Eamiguel, Rogers, Camille Fowler and Jamie Holscher each had two hits against the Vikings (5-16). The Coyotes totaled 11 hits in their four at bats.
 
UConn (7-12) sent ace Olson back in the circle against USD for the second night in a row and got the same result. Olson tossed another four-hit shutout, this time with four strikeouts and no walks. All four hits were singles.
 
A grand slam home run from leadoff hitter Briana Marcelino in the second was plenty of offense for the Huskies, who led 5-0 following the blast and tacked on two more runs in the fourth. Marcelino was 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored.
 
Rogers was 3-for-6 with the home run and two runs scored Saturday in the two games. The homer was the 28^th of her collegiate career. For the tournament, Lauren Wobken was 4-for-11 in the four games with a three-run homer and two runs scored.
 
The Coyotes begin Summit League play with a three-game series against Western Illinois (6-12) in Macomb, Illinois, next week. The teams will play a noon doubleheader Saturday and an 11 a.m. single game on Sunday.