USD softball upset bid falls short at Nebraska in NCAA Tournament

TL;DR

South Dakota softball team lost 4-1 to Nebraska in the NCAA Tournament Lincoln Regional. The defeat ended their upset bid despite a strong performance from pitcher Madison Evans.

Key points

South Dakota lost to Nebraska 4-1
Madison Evans pitched well despite the loss
South Dakota faces Louisville next in the tournament

South DakotaNebraska CornhuskersNCAA Tournament

South Dakota outfielder Autumn Iversen stands on second base during the Summit League tournament at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

When Madison Evans got out of a bases loaded, no outs jam in the bottom of the fourth inning, there appeared to be a buzz in Bowlin Stadium that South Dakota could spring one of the most improbable upsets of the 2026 softball season.

The next couple innings went Nebraska's way, and the No. 1 Cornhuskers beat No. 4 South Dakota 4-1 in the NCAA Tournament Lincoln Regional.

Nebraska will face No. 3 Grand Canyon in the winner's bracket at noon Saturday, May 16, while South Dakota and No. 2 Louisville will play a win-or-go-home game at 2:30 p.m. Grand Canyon beat Louisville 5-1 in the first game of the day.

South Dakota took a 1-0 lead with the game's first hit in the top of the fourth. Autumn Iversen, making her return to Nebraska, ripped a solo home run off Big Ten Freshman of the Year Alexis Jensen to lead off the fourth.

Evans gave up a walk, double and walk to start the bottom of the fourth. The Sioux Falls native then got three consecutive Cornhuskers to pop out, ending the threat and sending the Coyotes into the fifth with a lead.

South Dakota went down with just one hit in the top of the fifth, then Nebraska took a 2-1 lead with two-out extra base hits from Hannah Coor and Hannah Camenzind. The Cornhuskers then popped in a couple more insurance runs on a two-run double from Hoffmann in the sixth.

Iversen and Evans had the Coyotes' only hits on the day. Evans went all six innings, allowing four runs on six hits, three walks and a hit batter with three strikeouts. Five of the six hits Evans allowed came in the fifth and sixth innings.

Jensen punched out six batters in five innings for Nebraska, and Jordy Frahm struck out three in two perfect frames for the save.

It was South Dakota's first NCAA Tournament game in program history, and the Coyotes will need a win over an ACC foe if they want to extend this stay.

Q&A

What was the final score of the South Dakota vs Nebraska softball game?

The final score was Nebraska 4, South Dakota 1.

Who did South Dakota softball play next after losing to Nebraska?

South Dakota will face No. 2 Louisville in a win-or-go-home game.

What significant moment occurred in the fourth inning of the South Dakota vs Nebraska game?

Madison Evans escaped a bases loaded, no outs situation, which created a buzz in Bowlin Stadium.