South Dakota resumes play at the Summit League Tournament Thursday in Brookings. The fourth-seeded Coyotes take on top-seeded South Dakota State at noon from Jackrabbit Softball Stadium.
 
The two teams met five days ago in Brookings on the final week of the regular season. The Jackrabbits, behind pitchers Tori Kniesche and Shannon Lasey, took all three games to complete their first undefeated run through the conference at 17-0. SDSU, the two-time defending tournament champions, is 56-3 in Summit play over the last three seasons.
 
The good news for South Dakota is that it had a great opportunity to win game two of that series behind ace Clara Edwards. She didn't allow an earned run in six innings of work. But poor defense led to three South Dakota State runs and South Dakota left the bases loaded in the final inning in a 3-2 defeat.
 
Edwards tossed a five-hit shutout against North Dakota Wednesday. She is expected to get the ball again Thursday and face Kniesche, the Summit League Pitcher of the Year who allowed no earned runs in Summit play.
 
The winner of Thursday's game advances in the winner's bracket and will play at 1 p.m. Friday. The loser returns to the field Thursday evening for a 5 p.m. elimination game.
 
Weather could play a factor as well. Lightning suspended Wednesday's play-in game between North Dakota State and Kansas City. That game will resume at 10:30 a.m. Thursday with NDSU leading 2-0 in the fifth inning. Scattered thunderstorms are in the forecast for most of the day Thursday.