DES MOINES, Iowa — South Dakota softball earned a 3-0 win in game one behind a shutout from McKenna Young but would fall in the second game of the afternoon 3-2 to split the series against Drake.
 
Game 1 – W, 3-0                                          
The Coyotes wasted little time in the first game of the afternoon with a pair of runs in the top of the first. Tatum Villotta led off with a single and quickly rounded the bases to score on an Ella McGee triple. Delaney White grounded out to shortstop in the next at-bat but brought McGee in from third to put the Yotes up 2-0.
 
The South Dakota defense was ready to go from the jump, as they connected on four double plays in the game. The Yotes turned two with a 1-6-3 double play in the first and went 6-4-3 in the second frame.
 
With a runner on first in the third, Rylee Jones snagged a line drive and her throw to first beat the returning runner to clear the bases. The final double play came in the seventh inning with runners on second and third. The Bulldogs had an opportunity to score their first run of the game with a potential sacrifice fly, however Autumn Iversen's throw to home plate was in time and the Yotes finished off the shutout win.
 
Abi Brown tacked on an insurance run in the fourth with a two-out single to right field that drove in White to put the Yotes up 3-0.
 
McKenna Young went the distance in the circle to earn her third shutout win of the season. Young gave up seven hits and struck out five. White and Sara Iburg led the Yotes with a pair of hits each.
 
Game 2 – L, 2-3
In similar fashion to game one, USD put up two runs in the top of the first off the bat of a Coyote freshman. With two outs and McGee on first, Madison Evans sent a blast over the left field fence for her first career home run. The Yotes, however, were stymied by the Bulldogs pitcher who held USD scoreless over the next six innings.
 
Holding a 2-1 lead in the seventh, the Yotes had an opportunity to add to their lead with two outs and runners on the corners. Drake would keep it a one run game by forcing a groundout to end the top of the frame.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, the Bulldogs tied the game with an RBI double and in the next at-bat walked off with an RBI single for a 3-2 win.
 
USD had one extra base hit, Evans' homerun, while the Bulldogs had one with a double.
 
Clara Edwards is tagged with the loss after throwing all 6.2 innings. She struck out two and gave up seven hits and three runs.
 
South Dakota returns to Nygaard Field for a doubleheader against Morningside Sunday at 1:00 p.m.