VERMILLION, S.D. — The Yotes will compete in another five game weekend to continue their non-conference slate in the FIU Softball Invitational hosted by Florida International in Miami, Fla.
 
All five games can be followed via live stats at GoYotes.com/Stats. The FIU game (Feb 28) will be available on ESPN+ to watch. 
 
GAME #1
South Dakota vs Harvard
Where: Felsberg Field at Baptist Health Stadium | Miami, Fla.
When: Friday, Feb. 27 | 9:00 a.m. CST
No live video | Live Stats
 
GAME #2
South Dakota vs Fordham
Where: Felsberg Field at Baptist Health Stadium | Miami, Fla.
When: Friday, Feb. 27 | 2:00 p.m. CST
No live video | Live Stats
 
GAME #3
South Dakota vs Florida International
Where: Felsberg Field at Baptist Health Stadium | Miami, Fla.
When: Saturday, Feb. 28 | 11:30 a.m. CST
ESPN+ | Live Stats
 
GAME #4
South Dakota vs TBD
Where: Felsberg Field at Baptist Health Stadium | Miami, Fla.
When: Saturday, Feb. 28 | TBD
No live video | Live Stats
 
GAME #5
South Dakota vs TBD
Where: Felsberg Field at Baptist Health Stadium | Miami, Fla.
When: Sunday, Mar. 1 | TBD
No live video | Live Stats

LAST TIME OUT: BOERNER INVITATIONAL
The Yotes were 1-4 at the Boerner Invitational this past weekend where they competed with Wichita State, Creighton, and UT Arlington. The lone win was in game four where the Yotes took a six inning 15-7 win over the Mavericks. 
 
IN THE CIRCLE 
Madison Evans leads the way in the circle with a 3.50 ERA and 46.0 innings pitched. She's dealed 48 strikeouts and given up only 23 earned runs for two complete game wins. 
 
Last weekend Peyton Paulsen was big in the circle with a 2.76 ERA over 12.2 innings pitched. She gave up five earned runs off 15 hits with nine strikeouts. 
 
AT THE PLATE
Junior Brooke Carey continues to lead the Yotes overall with a .432 average on the season with 19 hits including two doubles and an RBI. She has eight multi-hit games on the season and has reached base in the last eight games. 
 
Last weekend freshman Camryn Kersten posted a .417 average in four games played where she hit three out of five extra base hits including her first career home run. 
 
ABOUT HARVARD
Harvard is 5-4 overall on the season and comes off a 10-1 (5 inn.) win over Morgan State to end last weekend in Spartanburg, S.C. The Crimson was at the GCU Invite alongside the Yotes although the teams never matched up while in Phoenix. They had losses to Sac State and GCU while splitting two games with Norther Colorado. 
 
Nicolette Hunter and Sheila Forbes of Harvard just received Ivy League weekly awards after their weekend in South Carolina. Hunter was named pitcher of the week after a 0.00 ERA across 12.2 innings with 19 strikeouts and only three walks. Forbes was named rookie of the week after leading the team with a .538 average with seven hits and three runs scored. 
 
VS HARVARD
This is the first time South Dakota will face Harvard in program history. 
 
ABOUT FORDHAM
Fordham enters the invitational at 3-7 on the season. Their wins last weekend include a 5-0 win over conference opponent North Dakota as well as a 5-2 (8 inn.) win over Oregon State. 
 
Offensively the Rams are led by Neleh Nogay who holds a .371 batting average with 13 hits on the season and is 5-6 in stolen base attempts. In the circle the go-to arms for Fordham are Holly Beeman and Olivia Simcoe who both have 16 strikeouts in 20+ innings of work. 
 
VS FORDHAM
This is the first time South Dakota will face Fordham in program history. 
 
ABOUT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 
FIU comes into the tournament 13-3 overall with 10 wins on their home field this season which gives them their best start in program history. Last weekend they hosted the Panther Invitational where they went 4-1 with wins over Florida A&M, Eastern Illinois, and Incarnate Word. 
 
Kally Meredith is a big bat for the Panthers with a .540 batting average with 27 hits. She also has the speed to back it up on the bases with seven stolen bases. Brooke McNichols leads the pitching staff with a .70 ERA and two complete game shutouts in three starts on the season. 
 
VS FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL
USD is 1-3 all-time when facing Florida International with the last meeting in 2022 where the Yotes won 13-3 at FIU's home field.