South Dakota softball’s run ends in extra-inning loss to Grand Canyon

South Dakota’s special postseason run came to an end in a 5-4 loss in eight innings against Grand Canyon at the Lincoln Regional, but it didn’t come without some heroics on each side.

Jada Cooper won the game for the Antelopes with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the eighth. South Dakota pitcher Peyton Paulsen got the first two outs of the inning, then Sydney McCray and Raegan Holtorf singled to set up Cooper’s swing.

“Credit to Grand Canyon, they had a super fast runner at second base and it was going to be hard to throw her out,” South Dakota head coach Robert Wagner said. “We made an effort on it, but overall it’s a good game. I’m really proud of the players, coaches and everybody involved.”

Grand Canyon will face top-seeded Nebraska in the Lincoln Regional Final at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 17. The winner will move on to the Super Regional round.

South Dakota sent the game to extra with two runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game at four. Sara Iburg walked and Ella McGee doubled with one out, and Katie Hofmann was sent up to pinch hit for Brynnly German.

Hofmann delivered her fifth hit of the season and doubled her season RBI total with a two-run single to tie the game. Hofmann was in tears of joy on first base, and first base coach Shannon Pivovar looked her in the eyes and said, “I’m so proud of you.”

Grand Canyon broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth, with Tinley Lucas and Ellie Pond hitting home runs on back-to-back pitches.

Campbell German got the start in the circle for South Dakota after Madison Evans got the win over Louisville. She surrendered a run in the first and another in the third. Campbell German’s final line was six innings, 11 hits, three walks, four runs, three earned and three strikeouts.

The sophomore pitcher entered the game with a 5.81 ERA in 2026, but navigated trouble constantly to give South Dakota a shot at the regional final.

Paulsen went 1.2 innings, giving up one run on three hits.

“Campbell and Peyton did a great job,” Wagner said. “There’s a few things defensively we’d like to have back, clean up, but Campbell kept them off balance and she made some pitches and was using the elements to her advantage.”

The Coyotes took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third. Kiya Johnson drove in Autumn Iversen and McGee with a single.

McGee led the ‘Yotes with three hits and two runs scored, Johnson finished with two hits and an RBI, Hofmann had a single and two RBIs, Iversen walked three times and scored once, Iburg walked and scored a run, Brooke Carey singled and Abi Brown drew a walk.

South Dakota finished its season with a 25-36-1 record, but the Coyotes won their first conference tournament championship and NCAA Tournament game in the program’s 48-year history.

“The experience is invaluable because, you can say it all you want, but now they’ve been through it,” Wagner said. “I think moving forward, it’s going to benefit the players and the program.”