MACOMB, Ill.—Aleesia Sainz and Jordyn Pender drove in two runs each and Clara Edwards tossed her 18^th complete game of the season to lead South Dakota to a 5-2 win against Western Illinois Sunday at McKee Stadium.
 
The Coyotes swept the Leathernecks for the first time since 2014 and maintained third place in the Summit League standings. South Dakota (27-20, 11-7 Summit) closes out the regular season with a three-game series at Kansas City next Friday and Saturday.
 
Western Illinois led 2-1 after one inning and that score didn't change until Sainz delivered an RBI triple in the top of the sixth that scored Gabby Moser from first base. One batter later, Pender drilled an Abby Carlin offering over the fence in right field that put South Dakota ahead 4-2. It was Pender's second home run in as many days and her fourth of the season.
 
Moser came up again in the top of the seventh and was intentionally walked to load the bases ahead of Sainz. That was significant because Moser needed a home run for the cycle – she tripled, doubled and singled as part of a 3-for-3 effort – and because Sainz is the Coyotes' leader in nearly every offensive category. Sainz made the Leathernecks pay with an infield single to the left side that plated an insurance run and made the score 5-2.
 
Edwards took care of the rest. She wasn't as sharp in facing the Leathernecks for the second day in a row, but it's tough to top Saturday's two-hit shutout. Western Illinois scattered eight hits Sunday, struck out four times and drew four walks. Edwards induced 14 ground ball outs and Sainz and shortstop Lauren Eamiguel combined for 10 assists.
 
Pender was 6-for-10 during the three-game series with seven RBIs. Moser was 6-for-11 with two doubles and a triple. Second baseman Tatum Villotta was 7-for-11 with a triple and is batting .375 in Summit play.