ARLINGTON, Texas — The South Dakota softball team suffered a pair of defeats to start the weekend down at the Boerner Invitational Friday. The Coyotes fell to Wichita State in the first game, 7-2, before a 4-0 loss to Creighton to finish the day.
 
GAME 1: Wichita State 7, South Dakota 2
 
PITCHING DECISIONS
Win: Ava Sliger (2-0)
Loss: Madison Evans (2-5)
 
It was a strong start in the circle for Madison Evans who struck out five Shockers in the first three innings of work. It was scoreless South Dakota scattered five hits through the first six innings of play but could never get the key hit to bring home any runs. On the game, Ella McGee and Brooke Carey both recorded two hits each.
 
Wichita State broke the scoreless tie with three runs in the fourth inning which proved to be the difference in the contest. They'd add to their lead with runs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh, growing it up to a 7-0 lead at one point.
 
Things changed in the seventh offensively for South Dakota with the bats waking up. The Yotes put up four hits and plated two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but it was too little, too late, as Wichita State took the game 7-2.  
 
Evans would pitch five innings in the circle in her seventh start of the season. She finished her outing with six strike outs and walked five. Campbell German pitched two innings in relief, striking out and walking one.
 
GAME 2: Creighton 4, South Dakota 0
 
PITCHING DECISIONS
Win: Brooklyn Patchen (2-2)
Loss: Peyton Paulsen (0-4)
 
In a rematch from the first weekend of the season, it would be the Bluejays on the winning side this outing. The Bluejays would hold South Dakota two just four hits on the day and no runs, evening the season series at one win a piece with a 4-0 victory.
 
The Yotes had a double with one out in the fourth from Delaney White and a lead-off double from Sara Iburg in the fifth but couldn't push across any runs.
 
Creighton struck for most of their damage in the second inning with a three spot, adding an insurance run in the fifth.
 
Peyton Paulsen worked most of the game in the circle, throwing 5.2 innings. She struck out six in the outing. Aubrey Lensmeyer recorded the final out of the sixth inning with a strike out of her own in her third appearance of the season.
 
Up Next: The Yotes return to action tomorrow with a doubleheader against the tournament hosts, UT Arlington. First pitch of Game 1 is slated for 3 p.m. (CT).