South Dakota softball takes on Saint Louis at 5 p.m. Tuesday and will play a doubleheader Wednesday against SIU-Edwardsville starting at 1 p.m. as the Coyotes continue a Spring Break trip that began last weekend in Memphis, Tennessee.
 
It will be the first time South Dakota has traveled to either campus, but it is not a first meeting. South Dakota last played Saint Louis in 2018 down in Louisiana. The Coyotes battled SIUE in Florida back in 2020.
 
Saint Louis split a pair of games against Fordham in the Bronx in New York Monday, so ironically, it may be South Dakota that is more rested. The split, which were the first conference games for Fordham this season, moved the Billikens to 5-12 overall. Fordham is expected to place second in the Atlantic 10 while Saint Louis is picked sixth.
 
All-region outfielder Gabbie Kowalik is off to a terrific start for Saint Louis. She's batting .444 with three triples, two home runs and 12 RBI. Third baseman Kristi Stevenson (.340) and all-conference first baseman Sadie Wise (.271) – both super seniors – are the only other Billikens batting over .180 in the lineup. Chloe Wendling, who pitched all nine innings of an extra-inning win Monday, is 4-5 with a 3.56 ERA in 63 innings of work.
 
SIUE played two games at Southern Illinois Monday and stands 7-12 overall. The Cougars are picked to finish sixth in the 10-team Ohio Valley Conference. Pitcher Mia Haynes opened her sophomore campaign with a five-inning no-hitter against Louisiana Tech that featured 10 strikeouts. That came after totaling 3 2/3 innings in all of 2021. Haynes is 4-6 with a 3.72 ERA in 67 innings. Sydney Baalman, an all-newcomer pick in the OVC last year, is 2-4 in seven starts with a 6.93 ERA in 32 innings.
 
Sophomore third baseman Grace Lueke is batting .345 with seven home runs and 16 RBIs for the Cougars. She has also drawn 11 free passes in 19 starts. Freshman Lauryn Yslava is batting a team-best .357 with two home runs and nine RBIs.
 
South Dakota has already equaled its win total from last season. Freshmen pitchers Clara Edwards and Kynlee Marquez have played a large role in that turnaround, though the Coyotes also boast six starters batting over .300. Junior third baseman Aleesia Sainz heads that group. The reigning Summit League Player of the Week is batting .340 with a Summit-best seven home runs and 18 RBIs. Freshman second baseman Tatum Villotta is batting a team-high .354 with four doubles.
 
South Dakota will continue its migration west following play Wednesday. The Coyotes are slated to play five games at a tournament hosted by Kansas Friday through Sunday in Lawrence.

5 p.m. Tuesday at Saint Louis | Live Stats
1 p.m. Wednesday at SIUE | Live Stats (GM1) | Live Stats (GM2)