ST. PAUL, Minn. -- South Dakota split its Summit League doubleheader at St. Thomas on Saturday, dropping the opener before responding with a strong bounce-back win in game two.

In the first game, the Coyotes struggled to find momentum offensively, managing just a pair of hits while falling behind early. St. Thomas struck for three runs in the first inning and continued to apply pressure with additional runs in the second and fourth, building a lead that South Dakota couldn't overcome.

Despite drawing a few walks and putting runners on base at times, the Coyotes were unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities as the Tommies controlled the game from start to finish.

Game two told a much different story as South Dakota came out aggressive and confident at the plate. The Coyotes jumped ahead early, scoring two runs in both the first and second innings to set the tone.

The offense stayed consistent throughout, stringing together hits and putting pressure on the St. Thomas defense with 12 total hits on the day. Timely hitting in key moments allowed USD to continue adding on, including another run in the third and an insurance run in the sixth to maintain control. Sara Iburg led the offensive effort with three RBIs, while multiple players contributed multi-hit performances to keep the lineup moving.

In the circle, South Dakota delivered a steady performance to secure the win. Peyton Paulsen handled the early innings and worked through some traffic before Aubrey Lensmeyer came in and shut things down late, holding St. Thomas scoreless over the final three innings.

After a difficult start to the day, the Coyotes showed resilience and responded with a complete performance in game two, using early offense, consistent hitting, and solid pitching to earn a split on the road.

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