LAWRENCE, Kan.—Runs were tough to come by against talented pitching as South Dakota dropped a pair of games to begin the Jayhawk Invitational Friday. North Dakota State won the opener 9-1 and Tulsa shutout South Dakota in game two 4-0.
 
Paige Vargas allowed four hits and struck out four to lead the Bison (5-11) to the win in game one. Courtney Wilson singled and scored on a Lauren Eamiguel double in the first off Vargas, but USD managed a pair of singles the rest of the way. The score was 1-1 before the Bison posted eight runs in the top of the fifth inning to earn the win.
 
Samantha Pochop, who had one of the nation's best ERAs last season, struck out 12 Coyotes in six innings of work for Tulsa in game two. She took a no-hitter into the fifth inning before Makayla Tsagalis ripped a two-out single. USD loaded the bases in the fifth, but a strikeout got Pochop out of the jam.
 
Tulsa (5-4) scored three runs in the first and they held up. Aubree Seaney and Sarah Briers had two hits each for the Hurricane.
 
South Dakota (4-17) continues play in Lawrence with a 10 a.m. rematch with Tulsa Saturday followed by a 12:30 p.m. matchup with Kansas.