MACOMB, Ill.—Two runs in each of the first three innings was enough for Western Illinois and ace Emily Ira to salvage the third and final game of a Summit League opening series against South Dakota 6-3 Sunday at Mary Ellen Stadium.
 
Sydney Hollings was 3-for-4 with two RBIs in support of Ira, who pitched into the seventh inning one day after tossing 12 innings in an extra-inning loss to South Dakota Saturday. Ira (4-5) allowed three runs on seven hits. She struck out four and walked one.
 
The Coyotes (19-16, 2-1 Summit) were their own worst enemy early on. Like Saturday, USD plated an early run against Ira and threatened to do more damage when a base running error let Western Illinois off the hook. Defensively, it was three errors that helped the Leathernecks (7-14, 1-2) build their lead.
 
Camille Fowler was 2-for-4 Sunday and had six hits in the series. Jamie Holscher, who hit a go-ahead two-run homer off Ira in Saturday's game one win, tagged her again with a solo shot in the fourth inning of this one that cut the lead to 6-2. It was Holscher's Summit-leading ninth home run of the season and the 16^th of her collegiate career. Holscher was 6-for-11 with five RBIs during the series.
 
USD returns to action Wednesday with a 4 p.m. contest against Creighton in Omaha. The Coyotes' home opener is set for Saturday with a noon doubleheader against Purdue Fort Wayne.