Update (Saturday, 11:45 a.m.): The start time of today's doubleheader has been pushed back to 3 p.m. due to weather.

South Dakota welcomes Western Illinois for a three-game series at Nygaard Field this weekend. The Coyotes and Leathernecks are slated to play a noon doubleheader Saturday followed by a single game Sunday at 11 a.m.
 
This would mark the first home games of the season for South Dakota, which installed a new backstop at Nygaard Field that delayed this year's home opener by a few weeks. Just four Division I softball teams have yet to play at home this season – South Dakota, South Dakota State, North Dakota and North Dakota State. While South Dakota hosts Western Illinois, SDSU is hosting NDSU, leaving just the North Dakota schools without a home game.
 
Of course Mother Nature could have her say in the schedule. Saturday's forecast is calling for wind, rain and even a chance for snow with high temperatures in the mid-40s. Sunday's forecast calls for highs in the mid-50s with strong winds.
 
Pink Games: If the weather holds off, the Coyotes will sport new pink jerseys for Saturday's doubleheader. The pink jerseys are meant to serve as a strong symbol of breast cancer awareness and the fight to find a cure against the disease.
 
How to Follow: A free stream for each game is provided on www.GoYotes.com/watch. Live stats are provided here.
 
The Matchup
Western Illinois is making its first trip to Vermillion since 2018. The Leathernecks have lost 19 of 20 following a 6-6 start. They beat North Dakota State 6-5 back on April 1 and are 1-5 in Summit play. Western Illinois had its series with South Dakota State postponed the weekend prior to NDSU.
 
The Leathernecks are led by junior infielder Bella Alvarez and fifth-year senior Savannah Rodriguez who hits and pitches. The two have combined for 10 of their team's 17 home runs and more than a third of their RBIs. Rodriguez and junior lefthander Emily Price have combined to start all but six games in the circle for WIU. Rodriguez has a 4-12 pitching record with a 4.07 ERA. She's batting .304 with five home runs and 12 RBIs.
 
South Dakota (17-17, 6-2 Summit) is looking to bounce back from its first losses in conference play. The Coyotes beat North Dakota State 8-0 in game one last week, but the Bison rallied back to take games two and three.
 
The Coyotes are led by senior third baseman Aleesia Sainz who is red hot, so much so that NDSU barely pitched to her last week. When it did, Sainz went 3-for-4 with two home runs. Through three Summit series, Sainz is 10-for-16 with 10 RBIs and 10 runs scored. She is leading nearly every major statistical category in conference play and by a wide margin.
 
Bela Goerke, Jordyn Pender and Delaney White are in charge of protecting Sainz in the lineup. Goerke is batting .291 with eight doubles, four home runs and has the second-best OPS on the team. Pender ignited USD's offense with a three-run homer in the win against North Dakota State. A year ago against Western Illinois, Pender was 6-for-10 with two home runs and seven RBIs. White, the freshman, has turned it on for the conference season. She's batting .421 with three doubles and has drawn three walks.
 
South Dakota swept Western Illinois in Macomb last season behind a pair of complete-game performances from Clara Edwards. She and newcomer Kori Wedeking have combined for a 0.86 ERA in Summit play. Edwards is 10-7 overall with a 2.53 ERA. Wedeking is 6-9 with a 3.79 ERA.

Sunday FREE Softball Clinic
The annual Coyote youth softball clinic will be held Sunday immediately following the game vs. Western Illinois. The clinic is hosted by USD softball student-athletes and is open to kids in the 6th grade and below. There is no cost to attend, but the team asks that participants fill out the linked form to RSVP.