Madeira Beach Invitational Schedule (all times eastern)
Friday, Feb. 14
4 p.m. vs. Akron | Live Video ($) | Live Stats
6:30 p.m. vs. Georgia State | Live Video ($) | Live Stats
Saturday, Feb. 15
11 a.m. vs. Southern Illinois | Live Video ($) | Live Stats
1:30 p.m. vs. Purdue | Live Video ($) | Live Stats
 
Sunday, Feb. 16
11:30 a.m. vs. Monmouth | Live Video ($) | Live Stats
2 p.m. vs. Central Arkansas | Live Video ($) | Live Stats
 
All games will be streamed by FloSoftball with plans starting at $12.49/month.
 
There was some good and bad in South Dakota's season debut in Iowa last week, but the facts are that the Coyotes earned two wins against a pair of quality ball clubs and were competitive against some NCAA tournament teams.
 
The scenery changes this week, although it will be a familiar site for South Dakota. The Coyotes return to Madeira Beach, Florida, for the first of consecutive weekends in the Sunshine State. USD will play six games – two each Friday, Saturday and Sunday – this weekend before returning to the same spot next weekend for five more contests. The Coyotes did the same thing a year ago and went a combined 7-3 on those trips.
 
South Dakota beat Purdue and lost to Central Arkansas here last year, but the other four teams are new. Southern Illinois and Monmouth, who USD will meet Saturday and Sunday, respectively, are NCAA Tournament teams from last season. The opening day, Friday, features Akron and Georgia State.
 
USD was relatively balanced offensively last week with six players notching at least four hits apiece. All-Summit shortstop Lauren Eamiguel led the way with a .353 average (6-for-17) with three doubles and five RBIs. Newcomers Jordyn Pender and Aleesia Sainz combined for nine hits each and Sainz had the team's first home run.
 
Defensively, the Coyotes made some good things happen in the field, but the pitching needs to improve in week two. Teams hit just .273 against USD last weekend, but 28 free passes – 20 walks and eight hit batsmen – produced scoring opportunities for opponents.
 
Here is a closer look at the week two matchups:


 
Akron (1-4 this year | 13-31 last year | picked 10^th in the MAC)
Former Kent State assistant Meaggan Pettipiece was named head coach at Akron back in July. She inherited a roster that brings back its top four hitters along with ace pitcher Adrian Smith (8-12, 4.50 ERA). The Zips are 1-4 after splitting games with Winthrop and losing one-run contests to Eastern Illinois and Samford (2). All-conference infielder Sydney Jascoe is back from an injury-shortened season. She hit .396 with nine homers in 33 games prior to the injury. She already has three home runs this season. But she was topped by teammate Kayla Wulf, who had 10 hits last week including two home runs. Wulf is the reigning MAC Player of the Week.
 
Georgia State (1-4 this year | 8-46 last year | picked 10^th in the Sun Belt)
A six-inning win against Illinois State in Tampa, Florida, highlighted the opening weekend for the Panthers. They were outscored 2-31 in the other four games, but against elite competition in nationally-ranked Michigan, Florida, Georgia and Fresno State (receiving votes). Longtime coach Roger Kincaid had true freshman Sophie Mooney and redshirt freshman Emily Buck combine for more than 23 innings in the circle last week. Mooney struck out 18 in less than 13 innings of work. In the batter's box, left fielder Sydney Stavro, a graduate transfer from Georgia Tech, went 5-for-12 with a double and a triple. First baseman Caitlin Ray led the Panthers a season ago with a .305 average and 16 doubles with two home runs.
 
Southern Illinois (0-3 this year; 34-15 last year; picked 3^rd in the MVC)
All but two players are back from a Saluki squad that lost to UNI in the conference tournament, but was good enough to earn an at-large bid to the Big Dance. One of those players was first-team all-region pitcher Brianna Jones (24-11, 2.37 ERA) and perhaps that's the only reason SIU is picked to finish third in its own league. Junior Jenny Jansen is back as an all-region hitter who batted .409 with six home runs and 42 RBIs last season. Catcher Katelyn Massa (.308, 6 HRs, 38 RBIs) is the reigning Valley Defensive Player of the Year, and what's that say when second baseman Maddy Vermejan didn't commit an error all last season! The opening weekend saw Southern Illinois lose 11-1 to South Carolina, 5-0 to Ohio State and 5-2 to North Dakota State in Columbia, S.C.
 
Purdue (5-0 this year; 34-29 last year; Big Ten does not announce a preseason poll)
USD and Purdue had quite the series last year. Alumna Jamie Holscher hit a walk-off two-run homer to beat the Boilermakers at Madeira Beach a year ago, but Purdue made a comeback of its own to win the rubber match in the opening game of the NISC Tournament in Ames, Iowa. Some good players were lost to graduation, but Purdue returns top pitcher Sydney Bates who won 13 games last season. Georgia Tech transfer Skye Webb, an outfielder, made a solid first impression with two doubles and three triples last weekend. Also in the outfield is Kasey Wilhoit who hit .322 with three homers and 35 RBIs last year. Freshman Cora Bassett hit third and played right field last week while providing four extra base hits including a homer.
 
Monmouth (0-0 this year; 36-18 last year; picked to win MAAC)
Right fielder Jasmine Higa is the only piece missing from a 2019 team that successfully defended its 2018 conference title and returned to the NCAA Tournament. All-region pitcher Alyssa Irons was brilliant last season. She set program records for wins (30), starts (37) and innings pitched (269), struck out 230 batters and turned in a 1.48 ERA. She completed all but two of those 37 starts and tossed 12 shutouts. Offensively, the Hawks return all-conference first baseman Kayla Rosado who led the team with a .383 average and had five home runs and 32 RBIs. At the other corner is all-conference third baseman Amber Wozniak who leads the team in runs driven in over the past two seasons.
 
Central Arkansas (3-3 this year; 26-28 last year; picked 7^th in the Southland)
Three wins and three one-run losses is how the Bears started last week. But two of those losses were to nationally-ranked LSU and Texas Tech. The veteran pitchers, Rio Sanchez and Jordan Johnson, held those LSU and Texas Tech to three runs and one run, respectively. Then there were the two freshmen hurlers in Kayla Beaver and Cailey Cochran. Beaver has begun her collegiate career with 12 scoreless innings in which she has surrendered just three singles and no walks while striking out 10. Cochran has four scoreless innings and has allowed just three singles with no walks. Offensively, the Bears return six starters including speedy leadoff Kayla Crutchmer who stole 39 bases a year ago and is already 7-for-10 this season. First baseman Kaylyn Shepherd hit .349 with seven homers and 33 RBIs in 2019.