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Softball
softball-ncaa-regional-nebraska-recap-2026
Steve Carlson, USD Athletics
Autumn Iversen (#4) in the on deck circle in the NCAA Regional opener against Nebraska (May 15, 2026)
1
South Dakota USD 20-35-1
4
Winner Nebraska NEB 47-6
South Dakota USD
20-35-1
1
Final
4
Nebraska NEB
47-6
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
South Dakota USD 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 0
Nebraska NEB 0 0 0 0 2 2 X 4 6 0

W: Alexis Jensen (23-2) L: Evans, Madison (15-15) S: Jordy Frahm (11)

Game Recap: Softball | | Steve Carlson, Assistant AD for Communications

Coyotes Battle Top-Ranked Nebraska But Fall Short in Regional Opener

LINCOLN, Neb. — The South Dakota softball team showed grit in their NCAA Tournament debut Friday evening against the top-ranked and regional host, Nebraska Cornhuskers. South Dakota held a 1-0 lead through four full innings of play, but the Huskers would score four runs in the fifth and sixth innings to avoid the upset bid.
 
PITCHING DECISIONS
Win: Alexis Jensen (23-2) 
Loss: Madison Evans (15-15)
Save: Jordy Frahm (11)
 
The Coyotes turned heads in the regional opener, holding Nebraska scoreless for four innings behind the arm of Madison Evans who held the top-ranked team in the nation to just one hit in those four innings.
 
After three innings of scoreless ball, South Dakota got their first hit of the NCAA Tournament in program history – which also resulted in the program's first run scored in the tournament. In the first pitch she saw in her second at-bat of the contest, Autumn Iversen took Nebraska's Alexis Jenkins yard over the left field wall for the 1-0 lead in the middle innings.  
The very next half inning, Nebraska would load the bases with no one out. A pair of walks and a double put the Huskers in business, but Evans would pull out a rabbit from her hat once again and find a way to work out of the jam without allowing a run. A foul out and a fly out would set the stage with two outs and Evans would blow a 2-2 pitch past the Husker batter to keep it 1-0 South Dakota.  
The Coyote bats, however, would also be stymied most of the contest being held to just a pair of hits. Evans would be the other Yote with a base hit in the contest.
 
Nebraska would score a pair of runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to avoid the upset bid on their home field, advancing to the 1-0 game with a 4-1 victory Friday night.
 
Despite the loss, Evans had a top-notch outing against one of the best offenses in the nation. She held the potent offense to just six hits and four runs (all earned). She struck out three Huskers and allowed three walks.
 
NOTES:
  • South Dakota's first-ever NCAA Regional hit and run came in the fourth inning on the Autumn Iversen home run.
  • It was Iversen's third home run and 21st RBI of the season.
  • As a team, it's the 23rd home run of the campaign.
  • Madison Evans now has 190 strike outs on the season in her 31st game started.
  • The 31st start now sits in a five-way tie for second in a single season in program history.
  • The six innings of work today brings her season total to 191.2 innings of work which slides up to seventh all-time in program history for a single season.
 
UP NEXT: South Dakota will face Louisville in an elimination game tomorrow, May 16. First pitch is slated for 2:30 p.m. with TV yet to be announced (as of 10:20 p.m. (CT) Friday night).
Stay up to date with all things Coyotes by following South Dakota Athletics on Facebook /SDCoyotes, X (Twitter) @SDCoyotes, and Instagram @sdcoyotes! 
#GoYotes
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