South Dakota heads back to the state of Georgia for weekend two of the season. This time taking part in the Panther Invitational hosted by Georgia State. Butler and Belmont are the other teams at the tournament.  

The Schedule
Friday
11:30 a.m. (ET) vs. Butler | Third Meeting (0-2)
4:30 p.m. (ET) vs. Georgia State | Second Meeting (1-0)
Saturday
9 a.m. (ET) vs. Butler | Fourth Meeting
11:30 a.m. (ET) vs. Belmont | Second Meeting (1-0)
Sunday
9 a.m. (ET) vs. Belmont | Third Meeting

The Opponents 

Butler (2023 Final RPI 208, 18-35, Big East)

Butler went 1-4 in its opening weekend tournament in Cedar Falls, Iowa. All four loses coming by three runs or less to go with its 2-1 win over Western Illinois.
The Bulldogs were picked fifth in the 2024 Big East Preseason Poll. 
Teagan O'Rilley leads the offense after one weekend with a .455 average with three of her five hits going for extra bases. O'Rilley drove in six runs in five games.
Ella White hit .357 and Cate Lehner .294
Four Bulldog pitchers, each one starting one game, combined to post a 3.43 ERA through five games. 

Georgia State (2023 Final RPI 204, 18-36, Sun Belt)

The hosts for the tournament enter with a 2-3 record having dropped a mid-week game to Mercer on Wednesday. 
Chloe Nedler is the top offensive threat for Georgia State through five games hitting .429 while three others are above .300 -- Maya Montague (.333), Chloe Middlebrooks (.333) and Ashton Schroyer (.313) -- among starters who played all five games.
The pitching staff of five pitchers has posted a 4.07 ERA through five games as Hallie Adams is 1-0 in two appearances with one start, having thrown seven 1/3 innings allowing just one earned run. 

Belmont (2023 Final RPI 115, 29-24, MVC)

Belmont opened its season going 1-2 with two games canceled in Auburn, Alabama, falling to ranked opponents Auburn and Virginia Tech while picking up a win over Illinois. 
Emily Cockrill and Emma Barnes each went 4-for-10 during the opening weekend. 
The five-member pitching staff which compiled a 8.24 ERA in three games is led by Ellie Giles, who allowed one earned run in three innings and Maya Johnson, who has allowed two earned runs in four 2/3 innings.