PHOENIX, Ariz. — South Dakota softball dropped a pair of games Saturday at the GCU Softball Stadium, falling 5-4 to Sacramento State before losing to host Grand Canyon later in the day.
 
South Dakota 4, Sacramento State 5
South Dakota jumped out early against Sac State with three runs in the first inning. Sara Iburg launched a two-run home run to right center and Abi Brown followed with an RBI single to give the Coyotes a 3-0 lead. 

Sacramento State answered immediately with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first and tied the game in the second on another solo home run. South Dakota regained a 4-3 lead in the fourth when Madison Evans drove in Brylee Hempey with a single up the middle. 

The Hornets walked it off in the seventh, however, using a two-out double from Saskia Raab that drove in two runs for a 5-4 final. 
Peyton Paulsen took the loss after tossing 6.2 innings and allowing five runs on 10 hits while striking out five.

Pitching Decision 
W: Keeli Smith (1-0)
L: Peyton Paulsen (0-2)
 
South Dakota 0, Grand Canyon 1
In game two, South Dakota was edged 1-0 by Grand Canyon in a pitcher's duel. The Lopes scored the game's only run in the first inning on an RBI single, and neither team scored the rest of the way. 

Madison Evans turned in a strong outing despite the loss, allowing just one run on one hit across six innings while striking out five. Grand Canyon pitcher Natalie Fritz earned the win after tossing a complete-game shutout, holding South Dakota to three hits and striking out six. 

South Dakota was limited to singles from Ella McGee, Brooke Carey and Delaney White in the contest.

Pitching Decision 
W: Natalie Fritz (2-0)
L: Madison Evans (2-3)
 
Up Next
South Dakota will play their final game of the weekend tomorrow morning in Phoenix.