It won't be Penn State on the opening day slate, but South Dakota will certainly be challenged by a pair of Missouri Valley squads Sunday in Cedar Falls. The Coyotes open against Drake at 2 p.m. before taking on defending MVC champ UNI at 4:30 p.m.
 
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The Bulldogs (147 RPI, 21-29 in 2022)
Drake finished fourth in the MVC standings last season with a 14-12 record and lost to UNI in the semifinals of the MVC Tournament. The Bulldogs return six starters on offense and two of their top three pitchers. Senior first baseman Emily Valtman is a two-time, first-team all-conference performer who hit .348 with 12 home runs and an OPS of 1.027 a year ago. Third baseman Addie Lightner was an all-defensive team pick last year and hit .268 with four home runs. Senior right fielder Delaney Taylor hit .306 and stole 10 bases.
 
Drake is replacing a shortstop, centerfielder and catcher on the defensive side. Paige Bedsworth returns to the circle following a 7-7 record and a 4.70 ERA as a true freshman last season. She also hit .301 at the plate. Senior Mackenzie Hupke is also back in the circle after going 5-7 with a 4.85 ERA in 66 innings.
 
The Panthers (69 RPI, 32-14 in 2022)
UNI catcher Emmy Wells, the reigning MVFC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and still the Panthers are expected to repeat as conference champs. That's because UNI returns seven other starters on offense and a pair of pitchers who combined for 30 wins, 354 strikeouts and an ERA under 2.00.
 
With Wells out, all eyes are on left fielder Mya Dodge, the reigning MVC Freshman of the Year who hit 13 home runs, batted .373 and stole 21 bases. That was more than enough for all-region honors. Center fielder Madison Parks is coming off a season in which she hit eight home runs and drove in 29 while going 18-for-18 on the base paths.
 
Kailyn Packard earned all-region honors last year after going 20-6 with a 1.70 ERA. The senior and former Kansas City Roo was Valley Pitcher of the Year in 2021, her first season in Cedar Falls. She boasts 42 wins and 391 strikeouts in 353 innings of work in the past two seasons for UNI. If it's not her the Coyotes see Sunday it will likely be fourth-year junior Samantha Heyer, an all-MVC honoree last year who went 10-4 with a 2.19 ERA and struck out 149 in 96 innings.