Peyton Paulsen brings proven strikeout upside to USD’s circle
In the 2026 season, South Dakota pitcher Peyton Paulsen has shown swing-and-miss stuff but also some volatility, posting a 5.75 ERA with 78 earned runs allowed in 59.2 innings while striking out 43 for the Coyotes[2]. A former 2025 NJCAA Pitcher of the Year at Kirkwood CC, she arrived with a big-time résumé — 144 strikeouts, a 1.80 ERA, and elite workload tolerance — which is why coaches clearly trust her to handle leverage innings[3]. If a team wants a competitive right-hander with real strikeout pedigree and upside, Paulsen’s the kind of arm that can grow into a difference-maker; if they need instant consistency, there’s still some polishing to do[1][3].
