VERMILLION, S.D. — South Dakota softball fell in the first game of its series against St. Thomas 7-1 Thursday afternoon at Nygaard Field. 
 
A pair of errors haunted the Yotes early, as the Tommies scored seven runs on five hits and left two on base in the first inning. The Yotes went down in order in the bottom half of the inning.
 
Campbell German entered the circle in relief in the second and held the Tommies in check with five straight scoreless innings. The Yotes, however, were stymied by the St. Thomas pitcher Ella Cook who carried a no-hitter into the bottom of the fifth inning before a Rylie Jones single to center field.
 
Brynnly German drove in the Yotes first run of the contest with a single up the middle that scored Isabel Carda from third. Carda singled to left field at the beginning of the inning and moved to third on a passed ball and wild pitch. Delaney White followed with a single of her own, but the pair of Yotes were left stranded as the Tommies got out of the inning with just the one run given up.
 
The Tommies threatened to add to their lead in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with one out. A line drive to shortstop Rylie Jones turned into a double play as Jones' throw beat the returning runner at first to end the inning scoreless. Madison Evans took over in the circle in the seventh inning for Campbell German. The Yotes went down in order in bottom of the seventh as UST closed out a 7-1 win.
 
McKenna Young takes the loss and moves to 8-5 on the season. Campbell German threw 5.0 scoreless innings, allowed one hit, walked three and had one strikeout.
 
South Dakota and St. Thomas will return to Nygaard Field tomorrow afternoon to close out the series with a doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m.