CONWAY, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina softball team is set to face the South Dakota Coyotes in its first three-game series of the year at St. John Stadium from March 7-9.

LAST TIME OUT

• The Chanticleers posted a 3-2 record over the weekend in the Chanticleer Showdown, picking up wins over Wisconsin (4-3), UConn (7-6), and Bowling Green (9-1).
• Nicolette Picone tossed a complete game in Coastal's 6-4, nine-inning loss to Wisconsin on Friday evening, setting a career high for innings pitched.
• Abby Henderson recorded a career-high seven strikeouts in Coastal's 4-3 win over Wisconsin on Saturday afternoon.
• The Chanticleers also earned two midweek victories, defeating Bowling Green 9-5 and securing a five-inning, run-rule win over UNCG, 9-1.
• CCU launched back-to-back home runs for the fourth time this season when Georgia Hood and Keirstin Roose hit consecutive homers in the 9-1 win over UNCG.
• Roose has hit four home runs in her last six games, driving in 10 runs over that span.

HISTORY AGAINST 

• This will be the first meeting in program history between Coastal Carolina and South Dakota.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

• The Coyotes enter the series with a 14-5 record and will be looking to extend their nine-game winning streak.
• South Dakota ranks sixth in the nation with 20 sacrifice bunts.
• The Coyotes rely on their speed, ranking 21st in the NCAA with seven triples.
• Mckennah Young leads the pitching staff with an undefeated 6-0 record, 63 strikeouts, and a 0.66 ERA, which ranks fifth in the nation.
• Tatum Villotta leads the offense with a .492 batting average and 31 hits, the 16th-most in the country.
• South Dakota has depth at the plate, with five of its starters batting over .300 this season.

NATIONAL RECOGNITION

• D1Softball ranked Delaney Keith as the No. 2 third baseman in the country and Georgia Hood as the No. 9 first baseman, as announced on March 6.
• Softball America released its Position Power rankings for March, placing Keith at No. 6 among third basemen and Hood at No. 7 among utility players.

For complete coverage of CCU softball, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalSoftball (X), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.