TEMPE, Ariz.—
Jamie Holscher hit a three-run homer,
Alyssa Fernandez added a two-run shot and South Dakota upset No. 23/25 Michigan 6-4 Saturday during play at a tournament hosted by Arizona State University.
It is the Coyotes' second win against a top-25 team in as many years, and this one had a similar theme. Start with
Sarah Lisko in the circle and close with
Dustie Durham. Lisko went five strong innings before handing a 6-3 lead to Durham in the sixth. Michigan put the tying run on first in the final inning, but Durham got an infield popup to secure her second save of the season.
Of Lisko's eight career victories, two are against top-25 teams. She beat then-No. 24 USC Upstate 7-4 last season.
"That was a great win for our players, our coaches and the alumni who have helped build this program," said USD head coach
Robert Wagner. "We work hard at trying to control the things that are within our control and compete to win every pitch. We focus on the process and try not to get so caught up in the results, but we can certainly enjoy this one."
The Coyotes (15-11) chased Michigan starter Sarah Schaefer in the first when
Camille Fowler led off with a single, Fernandez walked and Holscher belted her Summit-leading seventh home run of the season for a quick 3-0 lead. It was RBIs No. 26, 27 and 28 for Holscher, the Summit League's Female Athlete of the Month.
Fernandez's second home run of this Spring Break trip made it 5-1 in the fifth, and the Coyotes added one more on an RBI groundout by
Skylar Arellano.
Michigan (12-10) countered with a pinch-hit, two-run single by Abby Skvarce in the bottom of the fifth that made it 6-3. The Wolverines had two on later in the inning, but Lisko worked a ground ball by Mackenzie Nemitz to get out of it.
Lisko (3-1) allowed three runs on six hits. She struck out three and walked two.
Durham retired the first two batters she faced in the sixth before Faith Canfield delivered her third hit of the game. A ground ball to second by Natalie Peters ended the inning.
South Dakota had runners on the corners in the top of the seventh, but couldn't pad its lead. Michigan got a one-out single from pinch hitter Hannah Carson and Alex Sobczak was hit by a pitch to put two on. Morgan Overaitis gounded out to Durham for the second out, Nemitz made it 6-4 with an RBI single, and Haley Hoogenraad flew out to shortstop
Lauren Eamiguel for the final out.
Both teams had nine hits. Fowler and
Ashtyn Blakeman had two hits each for South Dakota. Fernandez reached base three times and scored twice.
South Dakota returns to action later Saturday with a 4:30 p.m. (MT) contest against New Mexico State.
