South Dakota softball steps outside Summit League play for the final time this season with a 4 p.m. first pitch at Creighton Wednesday in Omaha, Nebraska. The two teams have met in every full season but one since 2014. USD won four meetings in 2017, but the Bluejays have won the last three.
 
Creighton played a three-game series at Wichita State and a tournament in Southern Illinois before jumping right into Big East play. The Bluejays enter with a 13-12 overall record and an 8-7 conference mark. A 3-2 loss at Omaha on April 21 is the team's only action since April 18.
 
Fifth-year senior outfielder Ashley Cantu is a familiar name atop Creighton's numbers. She leads the team with a .429 average with two home runs and a team-high 16 runs scored. Junior infielder Kailey Wilson has enjoyed a breakout season with eight home runs and 25 RBIs to go with a .408 average. Junior Kiara Mills is batting .292 with six home runs and 14 RBIs.
 
Parker Boyd (6-9, 4.83 ERA), a graduate transfer from Lehigh, and junior Mikayla Santa Cruz (5-3, 4.41 ERA), who began her career at Arizona State, head the pitching staff. Freshman Jena Lawrence (2-0, 3.04 ERA) is unbeaten in nine appearances including three starts.
 
The Coyotes are readying for a Summit League weekend at home against Western Illinois, a four-game series with significant Summit League Tournament implications. In fact, USD will be without a couple of players due to academic commitments today including all-Summit outfielder Camille Fowler and top pitcher Sarah Lisko, who are involved with USD's nursing program. Junior Courtney Wilson is USD's top hitter with a .351 average, a home run and 13 RBIs.
 
How to follow: Live stats are a free live stream are provided by www.gocreighton.com.