Hard to believe, but the South Dakota-South Dakota State softball rivalry returns to Vermillion this weekend for the first time since 2017. The Coyotes and Jackrabbits square off in a noon doubleheader Saturday at Nygaard Field. The third and final game of the series is 11 a.m. Sunday.
 
The winner of the weekend series will earn a point for their respective athletic department towards the South Dakota Showdown Series presented by South Dakota Corn and Midco Sports. South Dakota currently leads this year's series 9-6 with five athletic points remaining. Three points for academics can be secured at the end of the semester.
 
South Dakota took two out of three from eight-time Summit League champion North Dakota State at home last weekend. This week's task is the defending champion Jackrabbits who enter with a Summit-best 21-8 record. South Dakota State won two out of three at Omaha last weekend to kick off conference play.
 
South Dakota State features reigning Summit League Pitcher of the Year Tori Kniesche and reigning Player of the Year Cylie Halvorson. They haven't missed a beat in 2022. Kniesche is 9-4 with a 2.40 ERA. She leads the league and ranks 27^th nationally with 124 strikeouts, which has come in 86 innings. Halvorson is batting .298 with a team-high eight home runs and 25 RBIs.
 
South Dakota will counter with reigning Summit League Pitcher of the Week Clara Edwards who won both of her starts against North Dakota State last weekend. Edwards is 9-7 with a 2.38 ERA and has pitched in 24 of 31 games. Offensively, Coyote third baseman Aleesia Sainz smacked two more home runs Tuesday against Drake and leads the Summit with 10 this season. Like Halvorson, Sainz leads her team with 25 RBIs.
 
South Dakota has won eight of nine matchups with SDSU at Nygaard Field since joining the Summit League in 2012 and is 19-14 against the Jackrabbits at the Division I level. South Dakota State took three of four in last year's series in Brookings.
 
The Vermillion forecast calls for highs in the mid-50s during the weekend. Live stats and a free live stream are available on GoYotes.com.