BROOKINGS, S.D. – The fourth-seeded South Dakota Coyotes advanced to the double-elimination portion of the Summit League Softball Championship thanks to a 2-0 victory over No. 5 North Dakota Wednesday in an elimination game at Jackrabbit Softball Stadium.
The Coyotes, who swept the Fighting Hawks in two neutral site games in late March, picked up where they left off and scored the game's only runs in the bottom of the third inning.
After a Gabby Moser drew a leadoff walk to open the frame, Alecea Mendoza doubled to left center to put runners on second and third. UND starter Jackie Albrecht was able to record one out, but South Dakota would get RBI-groundouts from Tatum Villotta and Courtney Wilson to push across the only run support South Dakota First Team All-League pitcher Clara Edwards would need.
Edwards got help from her defense in the top of the fourth after North Dakota's Katie Joten led off with a double. Cassie Castaneda followed with a liner to centerfield, but USD's Courtney Wilson was able to track it down and fire a quick throw into second to double up Joten.
Edwards struck out four batters and surrendered four hits with a walk through the first four innings of work. Edwards pitched around a two-out double by Fighting Hawks' second baseman Baylee Howley in the top of the fifth inning, enducing a slow ground ball right back at her to end the that threat.
UND put one more rally together in its final at-bat, but Edwards was once again up to the task. After back-to-back singles from Madison Pederson and Mariah Peters, Howley notched a successful sacrifice bunt to move runners to second and third. Summit League Player of the Year Aleesia Sainz then snagged a liner hit to her at third for the second out. Edwards then retried Taya Hopfauf on a groundout to Sainz to keep the Coyotes' season alive.
Pitcher of Record
Win – Clara Edwards (14-10): 7.0 IP, 5 hits, 0 earned runs, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts
Loss - Jackie Albrecht (4-16): 6.0 IP, 3 hits, 2 earned runs, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts
Notable Notes
• Clara Edwards captured her team-leading 14
th win of the season, pitching a complete game with a quartet of strikeouts
• Edwards' complete game was her League-leading 21
st of the season
• North Dakota outhit South Dakota 5-3 and left five runners on base compared to three for USD
• Alecea Mendoza collected two of the Coyotes' three hits with Courtney Wilson notching the other hit
Up Next
With the 2-0 victory on Wednesday, South Dakota advances and will take on No. 1 South Dakota State tomorrow at 11 a.m. CT in the winner's bracket.
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