VERMILLION, S.D. — The University of South Dakota softball team will return to the state of Texas this weekend for another five games at the Boerner Invitational, hosted by the University of Texas at Arlington, February 20-22.
 
All five games can be followed via live stats at GoYotes.com/Stats. Only the UT Arlington games (Feb. 21) will be streamed – on WAC International ($).
 
GAME #11: South Dakota vs. Wichita State
Where: Allen Saxe Field | Arlington, Texas
When: Friday, Feb. 20 | 10 a.m. (CT)
 
GAME #12: South Dakota vs. Creighton
Where: Allen Saxe Field | Arlington, Texas
When: Friday, Feb. 20 | 12:30 p.m. (CT)
 
GAME #13: South Dakota vs. UT Arlington
Where: Allen Saxe Field | Arlington, Texas
When: Saturday, Feb. 21 | 3 p.m. (CT)
WATCH
 
GAME #14: South Dakota vs. UT Arlington
Where: Allen Saxe Field | Arlington, Texas
When: Saturday, Feb. 21 | 5:30 p.m. (CT)
WATCH
 
GAME #15: South Dakota vs. Wichita State
Where: Allen Saxe Field | Arlington, Texas
When: Sunday, Feb. 22 | 9 a.m. (CT)
 
 
LAST TIME OUT: GCU INVITE
South Dakota struggled to get the bats going down in Arizona last weekend, only having multiple runs in two of the five games at the GCU Invite, hosted by Grand Canyon University. The Coyotes had the host team Grand Canyon on the ropes a few times on Saturday, February 14 but could never get the clutch hit needed. Madison Evans was electric in the circle, holding a potent and undefeated Lopes squad to just one run on one hit. The one hit in the first inning – a single down the left field run – plated the only run of the contest as GCU would tally the 1-0 victory. Both Sara Iburg and Evans went yard last weekend for the Coyotes.
 
COYOTE ROUND-UP
Junior Brooke Carey leads the way offensively, hitting at a clip of .414 this season through the first 10 games. She had a pair of hits in two of the three games against Sacramento State last weekend, while recording at least one hit in four of the five games.
 
Sara Iburg has been the primary deep ball threat with her three so far this season. Delaney White has driven in five runs on the campaign with Iburg right behind her with four.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
Madison Evans has made six starts in the circle this season through the first 10 games. She paces the Coyote pitching staff with her 2.48 ERA and 36.2 innings of work. She's also picked up both wins in the circle for the Yotes.
 
Both Peyton Paulsen and Campbell German have made two starts on the year with a combined nine appearances. Paulsen sits second on the team with her 11.2 innings of work and German with 9.0 innings.
 
ABOUT WICHITA STATE
Wichita State enters the weekend with a 3-5 record but all five losses have come against Power 5 competition, including three national-ranked squads. The three wins have come against Northwestern State (7-6), New Mexico (1-0), and Texas State (10-3). Gabby Scott holds the highest average for WSU at .391, while Ryley Nihart is proving to be the workhorse in the circle with her 22.2 innings pitched and 3.71 ERA (1-2 record).
 
Meeting for just the sixth and seventh time this weekend in Arlington, Wichita State leads the all-time series 3-2 against the Coyotes. South Dakota has won the last two meetings, however, back in 2017 and 2022. It'll mark the second and third meetings against the Shockers in the state of Texas.
 
ABOUT CREIGHTON
South Dakota and Creighton met back on opening weekend down in Huntsville, Texas with the Yotes prevailing 5-2 in the contest for back-to-back wins at the time. The Bluejays enter the weekend with a 3-7 record with two of their wins also coming back in Huntsville. Their last victory came with a 3-2 win against Drake down in Tucson, Arizona.
 
Creighton leads the all-time series 20-9. The series dates back to 1979. The Coyote win this season snapped a three-game skid to the Jays.
 
ABOUT UT ARLINGTON
UT Arlington enters the invitational with a 4-5 mark on the early season. They picked up a couple of wins last weekend also at home in Arlington with a pair of wins over Tulsa, but dropping games to Power 4 opponents Wisconsin and Iowa State.
 
South Dakota and UT Arlington have met three previous times in series history, with the Mavericks winning all three games (2021, 2023). The doubleheader this season will be the first games played against UTA in Arlington.