ST. PAUL, Minn. -- South Dakota dropped a tight 4-1 contest to St. Thomas on Sunday to close out the series.

The Coyotes struck first in the opening inning, as Brooke Carey launched a solo home run to give USD an early 1-0 lead and provide a quick spark offensively.

From there, however, runs were hard to come by. South Dakota was limited to just one hit for the remainder of the game and finished with only one total hit overall, as St. Thomas pitching kept the lineup off balance and prevented any sustained offensive pressure.

In the circle, Madison Evans battled through traffic and kept the Coyotes in the game early, working around walks and limiting damage across the first few innings. The Tommies eventually broke through in the third inning to tie the game, then took control in the fourth with a two-run frame before adding an insurance run in the fifth to extend the lead to 4-1.

South Dakota's pitching staff combined to allow just four hits, but St. Thomas capitalized on free passes and timely execution to generate its offense. Despite the early momentum, the Coyotes were unable to respond late, as St. Thomas closed out the game and held USD scoreless over the final six innings.

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