TEMPE, Ariz.—South Dakota sophomore pitcher
Alexis Devers tossed a three-hitter against her former team and the Coyotes bested New Mexico State 4-3 to complete a Saturday sweep at Farrington Stadium. USD (16-11) upset No. 23/25 Michigan 6-4 earlier in the day.
Devers (6-5), who redshirted at New Mexico State in 2017 before transferring to South Dakota, was brilliant against her former mates. She retired seven in a row before giving up back-to-back bunt singles in the third inning, and didn't allow a hit while retiring 14 of the final 16 batters she faced over the late innings. An error allowed a runner in the fifth and a one-out walk in the sixth preceded a 1-2-3 seventh.
Offensively, both teams plated three in the third. Catcher Skyler Arellano singled and scored to begin the Coyotes' rally in the top half, and back-to-back RBI singles by
Jamie Holscher and
Lauren Wobken came later in the inning. For the Aggies (9-11), a pair of walks following the two bunt singles and a two-run single by Nikki Butler equaled the game at 3-3 in the bottom half.
The decisive run came in the top of the fourth.
Lauren Eamiguel, who had two of South Dakota's six hits, delivered a two-out single. She stole second and moved to third on a base hit by
Camille Fowler. A passed ball allowed Eamiguel to score what turned out to be the game-winning run.
With 16 wins, South Dakota is already one win shy of equaling its total from all last season. The Coyotes will go for the equalizer Sunday against the home team, 16
th-ranked Arizona State. USD head coach
Robert Wagner helped lead ASU to two national titles as part of the Sun Devils' staff before moving to Vermillion. First pitch is noon (MT).
