VERMILLION, S.D.—South Dakota senior Aleesia Sainz drove in a career-high seven runs in a 10-2, series-clinching win against Western Illinois Sunday at Nygaard Field.
 
Sainz had a bases-clearing triple and a bases-clearing double in back-to-back innings to turn what was a 1-1 ball game into a six-inning blowout. Sainz joined a club that includes teammate Gabby Moser (2023) and alumna Allie Daly (2013) as Coyotes who have driven in seven runs in a game in the Division I era.
 
South Dakota took two of three from Western Illinois to improve to 19-18 overall and 8-3 in Summit League play. The Leathernecks (8-27, 2-7) scored a 9-6, eight-inning win in the second game of the series that began Saturday and concluded Sunday ahead of the rubber match.
 
Clara Edwards (12-7) pitched all six innings of game three to earn her second win of the series. After getting no-hit by Edwards in game one, the Leathernecks got a two-out single in the first inning from Maria Luna and took a 1-0 lead when Savannah Rodriguez followed with a double.
 
Edwards worked out of jams in the fifth and sixth innings. Still tied at 1-1, Edwards struck out Western Illinois' top hitter Bella Alvarez with runners on second and third to get out of the fifth. With one run in in the top of the sixth that made it 4-2, she struck out Abrianna Gracia to leave two runners stranded. Edwards allowed seven hits, struck out three and walked one.
 
Tatum Villotta and Courtney Wilson both went 3-for-4 in game three to set the table for Sainz. Villotta scored three times. Wilson crossed home twice and had an RBI single during USD's six-run sixth inning. Bella Goerke walked it off with a base hit to center field that plated Sainz with the winning run from second base.
 
Goerke was 5-for-9 with a double, home run, two walks and four RBIs during the series. Wilson was 5-of-11 with a triple and scored four times. Sainz was 4-for-9 and extended her hitting streak to nine games. She has reached base in 15 in a row.
 
Western Illinois pitcher Emily Price factored in all three decisions during the series. She closed out game two with three outs Sunday after her offense struck for three runs in a game that was tied at 6-6 through seven innings when play was suspended Saturday. She started game three and went five innings. Of the seven runs Price surrendered during the series, only two were earned. She struck out 12 and walked one in 12 1/3 innings.
 
South Dakota travels to Omaha next weekend for a three-game series against the Mavericks.