BROOKINGS, S.D. – Third-seeded South Dakota secured its first win of the 2025 Summit League Softball Championship with an 8-6 victory over No. 6 Kansas City on Wednesday afternoon at Jerald T. Moriarty Softball Field. The Coyotes used a six-run third inning to surge ahead and withstood a late Roos rally to advance in the double-elimination portion of the tournament.
After both teams went scoreless through two innings, the Roos struck first thanks to an RBI-single from Briona Woods but Kansas City's advantage would not last long.
In the bottom half of the third, the Coyotes responded with six runs to take their first lead of the game. With two on and one out, a fielder’s choice from Ella McGee plated the first run of the frame to even things at 1-1.
A bunt single by Tatum Villotta kept the momentum rolling before Delaney White’s two-run single pushed the lead to 3-1. Abi Brown followed with a two-run double to left center and Clara Edwards capped the scoring with a squeeze bunt RBI, giving the Coyotes a commanding 6-1 lead.
Two more scoreless frames followed before the Roos rallied to pull even at 6-6 after plating five runs in the sixth off reliever McKenna Young. After a walk and an error put runners in scoring position, a passed ball brought in the first run of the inning.
A single from Leilani Bustamante and a two-run double by Lauren Parker cut the deficit to 6-5 before a throwing error and an RBI fielder’s choice brought in the tying run to level the game at 6-6.
Unfazed by the Roos' rally, South Dakota staged its own two-out rally in the bottom of the frame. McGee doubled to spark the inning and a single by Villotta moved her to third.
White then delivered again, knocking in McGee with an infield single to put USD back in front. Brown followed with the Coyotes' fourth straight hit, a sharply hit RBI single to score Villotta and push their cushion to 8-6.
Young closed out the final inning for her 14th win of the season, retiring the Roos in order to seal the victory.
Pitcher of Record
Win – McKenna Young (14-8): 4.0 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Loss – Maddie Parker (1-3): 3.2 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Notables
- White went 3-for-4 with three RBI, boosting her season total to 33.
- Brown also drove in three runs, including a two-run double in the third.
- South Dakota recorded 11 hits, including multi-hit games from White, Brown, Iversen and Villotta.
- Kansas City’s Lauren Parker had a two-hit day with two RBI and a double.
- The Coyotes' victory was the 200th of head coach Robert Wagner's career.
Up Next
South Dakota advances in the winner’s bracket and will face the top-seeded South Dakota State Jackrabbits tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. CT.
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