VERMILLION, S.D. – South Dakota and North Dakota State split a softball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Nygaard Field to open Summit League play.
 
South Dakota, playing its home opener, scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh in game one to claim a 5-4 victory while North Dakota State took game two 7-1.
 
The three-game series will wrap up on Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch.
 
Courtney Wilson, who was 2-for-4 in game one, hit a two-run single to even the score in the bottom of the seventh. The Coyotes (15-13, 1-1 in Summit) then won the game when a grounder off the bat of Jadyn DeWitte saw Tatum Villotta score the winning run when the throw from the infielder was not handled by the catcher.
 
Lauren Eamiguel went 2-for-3 in game one and scored twice while DeWitte and Rylee Nicholson had RBIs in the win.
 
Clara Edwards (8-7) earned the pitching victory, allowing three earned runs on six hits.
 
North Dakota State (19-14, 1-1 Summit) plated four runs in the top of the first in game two and totaled 10 hits in the contest. Cameryn Maykut, who was 3-for-3 in game one, was 3-for-4 in game two.
 
Bison hurler Lainey Lyle limited the Coyotes to one run on two hits, singles from Wilson and Jordyn Pender, with two walks and four strikeouts.