University of South Dakota Athletics

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — As the pre-game box score noted, 'the sun does exist' and it was the arm of Madison Evans that shined even brighter in the 1-0 upset of No. 1-seed Omaha with a three-hit complete game shutout Thursday afternoon at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium, while also helping her own cause driving in the game's only run with an RBI single in the fifth inning.
 
"Madison was spectacular! Any time you get a shutout it's a great accomplishment but to shutout the leading offensive team in the league tournament is truly something amazing," noted head coach Robert Wagner. "She was a dog today."
 
PITCHING DECISIONS
Win: Madison Evans (13-13)  
Loss: Maddia Groff (16-7)
 

𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 👑

Back-to-back complete game one-run victories for 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐬!

» 3 Omaha hits allowed
» 8 strike outs
» Game-winning RBI single in the 5th
» 2-0 in the Summit League Tournament#GoYotes x @TheSummitLeague pic.twitter.com/a7sl87nX2g

— South Dakota Softball (@SDCoyotesSB) May 7, 2026

 
It was a battle between the two aces, just like Game 2 of the regular season less than a week ago in Vermillion. Vibes were high for the Coyotes all day, firmly believing in themselves with the sun making its first appearance at the Summit League Tournament with the vibes high from the first pitch for the Yotes.
 
"The team brought a lot of energy today and was able to overcome some adversity in order to win a close game," said Wagner.
 
South Dakota got two runners on in the first, thanks to a single from Autumn Iversen to start off the game. Unable to bring in any runs, it was Evans' turn to get to work in the circle.
 
A lead-off double deep to center field from Evans in the third, as she looked to help her own cause in the circle. The Yotes were not able to bring her around but the first two hits of the first game of Day 2 belonged to South Dakota.
 
Omaha found their first hit of the contest in the third off of Evans with a double to put runners on second and third with one out. Evans was able to work out of the jam with a foul out and a strike out to keep the game scoreless through third.
 
For the second-straight inning, the Mavericks had runners on second and third with one out in the fourth. Back-to-back punch outs and a weak pop-up to second got the Yotes out of the threat yet again.
 
The easiest inning for the Yotes defensively, proved to be the opposite of the adage, 'the hardest three outs to get' – the last three. Feeling the pressure a little but, Omaha went up swinging away and a pair of pop-ups to Abi Brown behind the plate secured the 1-0 upset win for South Dakota.
 
Evans, while being elite in the circle, also led the team offensively with her two hits on the day. Brown, Kiya Johnson, and Iversen recorded the other three hits. South Dakota was held to just five hits as a team by Omaha's ace but proved to be just enough for the victory.
 
It was a pitching clinic for Evans in her 27^th start of the season. She was stellar, allowing just three hits and four free bases, while striking out eight Omaha hitters. All three Omaha hits were doubles and the Mavericks had a base runner on in the first six innings that Evans worked around every frame.
 
In her 17^th inning against the Mavericks in the last seven days, the Mavericks have only scored in one of those innings. She's now struck out 19 Mavericks in those 17 innings, averaging more than one punch out per inning against the best offense in the Summit League.
 
NOTES:

• It's the first shutout of the season for South Dakota against a Division I opponent, coming in the Summit League Tournament and against the top-seeded Mavericks.
• It's the second win against Omaha this season, being now just ONE of three teams the entire season to win multiple games against the Mavericks (Arkansas, Nebraska).
• It's now 17 innings for Evans against the Mavs in the last seven days with the Mavs scoring in just one of those innings.
• For the second-straight season, South Dakota picks up a win against the Mavs in the tournament
• It's the fifth neutral site win for USD this season (5-11-1).
• The Yotes have now won eight of their last 12 games dating back to April 18.
• Madison Evans moves into fourth all-time in USD history for strike outs in a season (169) following her eight on the day.
• It's the most strike outs in a season since Rachel Cue has 167 in 2014.

 
UP NEXT: South Dakota will face the winner of (2) St. Thomas and (6) South Dakota State in the winner's bracket game tomorrow. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. on Friday, May 8 to start Day 3 of the Summit League Tournament from Jane Sage Cowles Stadium in Minneapolis. Stay tuned to GoYotes.com for the most up-to-date information on tomorrow's opponent and game information.