GRAND FORKS, N.D. — For the first time since February, the South Dakota softball team posted a run-rule victory with 12 runs on 12 hits and five extra base hits in five innings in the series opener with North Dakota Saturday afternoon from Albrecht Field. The Yotes scored a run in each frame, while getting the leadoff hitter on in the first four innings of today's opener.
 
PITCHING DECISIONS
Win: Madison Evans (7-13)
Loss: Unity Nelson (9-7)
 
Nine Coyotes recorded a hit in the dominant victory as Allie Cromer tallied her first home run as a Coyote with the Yotes winning the first game of the series for the first time in Summit League play. Wasting no time, the Coyotes scored five first inning runs to take complete control of the contest from the outset.
 
On the day, nine Coyotes recorded a hit with six different Coyotes driving in two runs in a complete offensive performance.
 
The first inning barrage was highlighted by a Sara Iburg laced double into the left centerfield gap to give the Yotes the early 2-0 advantage. After that, a walk, hit-by-pitch, and infield single extended the lead up to 5-0.
 
A walk and another UND error leaded the bases when Abi Brown worked a full count work, after finding herself down the count 1-2, to drive in the third run. A hit-by-pitch and infield single from Autumn Iversen would make it 5-0 after the top half of the first.
 
North Dakota would put a run up in the bottom half of the frame, then loading the bases with two away. Starting pitcher Madison Evans would work out of the jam, getting a full count fly out to keep it a four-run Yote lead after one inning of play. It would prove to be the only offensive production for the Hawks all day long.
 
Brooke Carey stayed hot to start the second inning for USD. The third error of game for the Fighting Hawks put runners on first and second to get the inning going. Evans would lay down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. An RBI ground out from Delaney White would score Carey as the lead would be brought back up to five at 6-1.
 
North Dakota began to show some patience at the plate with two of the first three batters working full counts on Evans and increasing her pitch count in the second inning. Again, Evans would work out of the small jam with a line out turned into a double play at second.
 
For the third straight inning, the Yotes got the leadoff runner on and scored a run as Kiya Johnson delivered a deep RBI double to left center, making it 7-1 South Dakota and forcing a North Dakota pitching change.
 
In the fourth inning, already with four doubles as a team to this point, Cromer would go yard with a two-run home run, extending the Coyotes lead to 11-1.
 
Not to be outdone by the offensive performance, Evans went the distance in the circle to pick up her seventh win of the season. She allowed just the one North Dakota run, while striking out three, walking five, and giving up five hits in the outing.
 
UP NEXT: Game two of the three-game series from Grand Forks is slated for a 3 p.m. start on Sunday, April 19 from Albrecht Field.