LOUISVILLE, Ky. – South Dakota softball team suffered an 8-5 setback at Louisville on Thursday evening inside Ulmer Stadium to begin the Cardinal Classic.
 
The Coyotes held leads of 3-2 and 4-3 during the game before the Cardinals scored two runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to secure the victory.
 
Abi Brown, a freshman, connected for her first collegiate home run, a three-run shot, in the top of the second inning to give South Dakota a 3-2 lead.
 
Gabby Moser, a senior, gave the Coyotes a 4-3 lead with an RBI double in the top of the fifth inning.
 
Louisville, though, would tally and get a two-run double from Bailee Richardson to regain the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Chelsea Mack and Daisy Hess, the top two hitters in the Cardinals order, went a combined 6-for-7 with four runs scored and two RBIs.
 
South Dakota (14-14) got a run in the top of the seventh inning as Maddox Boston doubled and scored on an RBI single from Moser, who went 2-for-4.
 
Clara Edwards also had two hits as the Coyotes had eight in the game off two Louisville pitchers.
 
Kori Wedeking earned the start and pitched into the third inning while McKenna Young suffered the loss in relief.
 
South Dakota is scheduled to play two games on Friday at the Cardinal Classic taking on Dartmouth and Illinois.