VERMILLION, S.D. - Western Illinois dropped the first two games of its series against Summit League foe South Dakota on Saturday (April 28). Errors plagued the Leathernecks in the 2-1 game one loss, and the Coyotes out hit Western Illinois eight to five in the game two 9-3 loss.

Game #1 - 12 p.m.
South Dakota 2, Western Illinois Softball 1

Western Illinois starting pitcher Hailey Bickford (9-10) tossed a two-hit complete game, but four errors allowed the Coyotes to record the 2-1 victory.

South Dakota reached the board in the bottom of the first inning on a lead off walk, stolen base and an error. The 1-0 lead held strong until the top of the fifth inning when Western Illinois ended the perfect game, no hitter and shut out bid of South Dakota starting pitcher Erica Denney.

Lia Romeo was plunked with her 19th hit by pitch of the season to start the inning, then Hailey Bickford and Megg Kelly used back-to-back singles to load the bases. Emma Jarrell came through in the clutch with a single up the middle to even the score 1-1.

The Coyotes started the sixth inning with a double, moved the runner up to third with a sacrifice bunt and an error allowed the winning run to come home.

Four Leathernecks, Jamie Goss, Bickford, Kelly and Jarrell, each picked up a hit in the contest with Jarrell earning the lone RBI.

Game #2 - 2 p.m.
South Dakota 9, Western Illinois Softball 3

The Fighting Leatherneck offense started hot in game two of the doubleheader earning two runs in the top of the first. Briana Williams reached on an error, stole second and moved up to third on a KC Dunne infield single. Then Jamie Goss used a squeeze play to bring home a run. After Lia Romeo walked, Hailey Bickford plated the second run with a single to right.

Western Illinois added another run in the top of the second when Goss doubled home Williams, who drew a walk to start the inning. The RBI marks the 153rd of Goss' collegiate career and ties the Western Illinois Career RBI Record set by Bridget Maxwell.

In the bottom of the second, South Dakota fought back scoring six runs of their own on two hits and three errors. Then added an additional three runs on two hits and one error in the bottom of the sixth to take the 9-3 advantage over the Leathernecks in game two.

Goss paced the Leathernecks at the plate with two hits and two RBI in game two. Dunne also tallied two hits in the contest, while Ashley Campbell and Bickford had one hit apiece.

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