The ISU club baseball team is moving on from a mistake-filled weekend against Minnesota State-Mankato to begin preparation for the University of South Dakota.

The Cyclones (3-5, 1-2 Mid-America) host the Coyotes (9-1, 3-0 Mid-America) on Saturday and Sunday.

The Coyotes are powered by their offense, and haven’t been held under five runs in a game yet this season.

They are led by captain Trevor Freudenthal who holds a .342 batting average on the year. Freudenthal has also hit four home runs and has 15 runs batted in.

“They have a bunch of good hitters,” said ISU player-coach Tyler Strub. “Last year they could score at any time. I think they hit two to three home runs in one game last year.”

Errors have caused problems in recent games and Cap Timm Field has seen recent field work. The Cyclones are hoping things will turn around against South Dakota.

“We’re just taking a lot of infield and getting more used to the field,” Strub said.

Senior shortstop Matt Coffey said improving play this weekend goes beyond just preparing physically.

“You can only dive for so many balls and catch them,” Coffey said. “As long as you’re making the right mental choices, that’s the best you can do.”

This will be Coffey’s first time facing the Coyotes, and he said that will give him the advantage.

“That will actually make me focus more,” Coffey said. “With a familiar opponent, you’ll get almost too comfortable with them.”

Coffey said it was frustrating to strand runners on base last weekend, and the reason for it was a lack of the lineup being consistent.

“It’s really a team effort,” Coffey said. “The top of the lineup and the bottom half of the lineup has to work together.”

Player-coach Jeff Peterson remembers dropping a few games in South Dakota last year and doesn’t want to have a repeat in Ames this season.

“They’re loud and they’re rowdy,” Peterson said. “They get in your face and get in your head. It was tough last year, but I think the tables will turn this year with it being on our home field and I hope to get a big crowd here.”

First pitch on Saturday is at noon with the second game beginning at 2 p.m. The two teams will square off at 11 a.m. Sunday before the finale at 1 p.m. All the games will be played at Cap Timm Field.