(FARMERS BRANCH, TX)  The University of South Dakota softball team’s season ended in heartbreaking fashion Monday, as the Coyotes suffered a tough 1-0 loss to North Dakota in the finals of the Great West Championship in Farmers Branch, Texas.

USD (21-30-1) had recorded a hard-fought 3-1 win over Utah Valley earlier in the day to advance to the finals. Against North Dakota, the Coyotes received a strong pitching performance from junior Mel Johnson (Sioux Falls, S.D.) but were unable to get a run across against UND starter Emma Gronseth. North Dakota scored one run in the top of the first and made it stand in the hard-fought game. “They played their hearts out,” said USD head coach Amy Klyse of the Coyotes. “If you’re going to lose that’s the type of game you want to lose. UND played great and had some great defensive plays.” Johnson pitched a four-hitter, striking out three and walking one in six innings. She retired nine straight batters to end the game. USD had runners in scoring position twice – in the fourth and sixth innings -- but both threats were stopped by Gronseth, who struck out five and walked two.

Seniors Michelle Jones (Rapid City, S.D.) and Dani Bahlmann (Marshall, Minn.) had the only hits for USD, both singles. Earlier in the day, USD recorded a 3-1 win over Utah Valley to stay alive in the tournament. The Coyotes advanced thanks to a pitching gem from Johnson, who fired a three-hitter for her 16th win of 2010. She walked only one and struck out two and allowed just one earned run. USD managed three hits in the game but capitalized on three Utah Valley errors to put runs on the board. In the bottom of the second, USD got on the board. Junior Jessica Lussman (Storm Lake, Iowa) singled to lead off the inning, and moved to second when senior Bahlmann reached base on an error after her bunt was misplayed. Senior Jasey Goedeken (Columbus, Neb.) lined out to UVU pitcher Jessica Martin; however, Martin, in an attempt to throw out Lussman at second, fired the ball into center field, allowing Lussman to score the game’s first run. USD added to the lead in the third. Senior Callie Roan (Sioux City, Iowa) walked, and was forced out at second on a fielder’s choice by sophomore Alexa Rudeen (Sioux City, Iowa). Johnson singled to move Rudeen to second.

Senior Rachel Fricke (Monroe, Neb.) advanced on a fielder’s choice; on the play, the ball was thrown away, allowing redshirt freshman Kate Snow (Battle Creek, Neb.), who was pinch-running for Rudeen, to score. Lussman then put down a suicide squeeze bunt with Johnson heading home. Johnson beat the throw home, giving USD a 3-0 lead and Lussman an RBI on the play. Utah Valley scored in the fourth but got no closer against Johnson, who slammed the door at any potential comeback attempt. “Mel pitched two of her best games of the year today,” Klyse said. Roan, Johnson and Lussman had hits for USD in the win. After the completion of the tournament, it was announced that the Coyotes had four all-tournament selections –Bahlmann, Fricke, Johnson and Roan. Bahlmann hit .333 and made several key defensive plays at second bavse and finished with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage during the four games at the tournament. “Dani had by far the best defensive tournament of her career,” Klyse said. “She made several clutch, diving plays that ended momentum.” Roan hit .286 with three sacrifice bunts but also had a .545 on-base percentage. Johnson was 2-2 on the mound with a 3.45 ERA in 24 1/3 innings while hitting .250 with two RBI. Fricke had a double and a .308 on-base percentage for the weekend.

Notes: It was the final game for five USD seniors: Bahlmann, Fricke, Jasey Goedeken, Michelle Jones and Roan…Klyse has 73 wins in her first three seasons at USD, which is the second most of any coach in school history…USD recorded back-to-back 20-plus win seasons for the first time since 2004-05…USD finished 16-11-1 over its final 28 games.