South Dakota opens its 2024 softball season with a five-game slate at the Red & Black Showcase hosted by Georgia from the SEC at Jack Turner Stadium.
Murray State, Purdue and Georgia are the opening weekend opponents for the Coyotes. 

The Schedule
Friday
1 p.m. (ET) vs. Purdue | Fifth Meeting (1-3) | Live Stats
6 p.m. (ET) vs. #6 Georgia | First Meeting | Live Stats

Saturday
10:30 a.m. (ET) vs. Murray State | Third Meeting (1-1) | Live Stats
6 p.m. (ET) vs. Purdue | Sixth Meeting | Live Stats

Sunday
9:30 a.m. (ET) vs. Murray State | Fourth Meeting | Live Stats

The Opponents 

Purdue (2023 Final RPI 114, 23-30, Big Ten)

Purdue is under the guidance of first-year head coach Maggie Frezzotti, who was named the fifth head coach in program history in June. 
The Boilermakers freshman class was ranked #23 in the nation on signing day by Extra Innings Softball while utility player Ashlynn Campbell was named to the Softball America Freshman Watch List. 
Purdue is led by junior Tyrina Jones who led the team last season in runs (34), hits (56) and the top returner in batting average at .315. Jones started every game at shortstop and ranked fourth in the Big Ten in assists with 130.

Georgia (2023 Final RPI 16, 42-15, SEC)

Georgia, a Super Regional team in 2023, was picked to finish second in the SEC by the league's head coaches. Jayda Kearney, Sydney Kuma, Sara Mosley and Shelby Walters were tabbed Preseason All-SEC. 
Kearney, Kuma and Mosley all earned All-American honors in 2023 and the trio combined for 45 percent of Georgia's run production and 52 percent of the team's home runs. 

Murray State (2023 Final RPI 118, 33-21, MVC)

Murray State, a fourth-place finisher in the Missouri Valley Conference in its first season in the league in 2023, was picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll in 2024. 
The Racers have 10 new faces including eight freshman among its 21-player roster but two veterans who return are senior catcher Taylor Jackson and senior pitcher Jenna Veber. Taylor was named to the MVC All-Defensive Team after posting 371 putouts while Veber only walked 21 batters and had a 2.02 era last season.