Five Jackrabbits earn All-Summit League honors

FARGO, N.D. – Megan Rushing and Kendra Conard highlighted five Jackrabbit selections to the 2019 All-Summit League Softball teams, announced Tuesday evening at the championship banquet.

Rushing and Conard were first team selections, while Ali Herdliska, Baily Janssen and Yanney Ponce were named to the All-Summit League Second Team.

"We are extremely proud of these individuals, and know that these awards are in recognition of the hard work our team has done throughout the year," head coach Krista Wood said.

Rushing hit .308 against Summit League opponents with five doubles, and for the season drove in 16 to go with 19 walks, two home runs and nine total two-baggers. The West Des Moines, Iowa native had six multi-hit games in 2019 and three multi-RBI performances, including a trio of three-RBI games against Colgate, Omaha and North Dakota State. Rushing posted a .963 fielding percentage in the hot corner, converting 158 of 164 chances with 117 assists. A transfer who spent two years at Des Moines Area Community College, Rushing is a repeat all-league selection after earning a second team nod in 2018.

Conard posted a 15-3 record in regular season contests with a 7-2 mark in league games. She has tossed 10 complete games in 19 starts (22 appearances) and leads the Jackrabbits with 51 strikeouts and a 1.29 WHIP. Conard had five games with four or more strikeouts, including nine- and eight-strikeout performances against Western Illinois and North Dakota, respectively. Named the league's Pitcher of the Week on March 11, the South Lake Tahoe, California native is a first-time all-league honoree.

Herdliska has led the Jackrabbit attack all year, posting a slash line of 345/.492/.691. Of her 48 hits, she has blasted 13 home runs, seven doubles and a triple while drawing a single-season record 40 walks. The Solon, Iowa native has driven in 40 while posting 14 multi-hit and nine multi-RBI showings. Herdliska reached safely in 15 of 18 league games, and had five of her home runs come against league opponents. The program's all-time leader in career home runs, runs batted in, walks and total bases is the first-ever four-time all-league performer in SDSU history. She earned first team honors as a freshman and second team recognition the previous three years.

Janssen was 35-for-122 (.287) at the plate and started every game at second base for South Dakota State (along with Herdliska and Ponce). From Missouri Valley, Iowa, she tallied four doubles, drove in 16 and added 18 walks at the plate. In Summit League play, Janssen posted a .297 average and had 10 walks. She had five multi-hit and multi-RBI games, including a three-RBI showing against Creighton in April. Janssen, who totaled a .972 fielding percentage for the year, is a first-time all-league honoree.

Ponce exploded at the plate in Summit League play, raising her season batting average to .325 with a team-high 49 hits. From San Bernardino, California, Ponce is hitting .364 against league opponents with four doubles, two triples, two home runs and 19 runs batted in. For the year, Ponce has seven two-baggers, four triples and three home runs with 36 RBIs. She paces the Jackrabbits with 16 multi-hit games, and in mid-April was selected as the Summit League's Player of the Week. Ponce tallied 136 assists at shortstop of the year, and is a first-time all-league honoree.

Since 2008, 19 Jackrabbits have garnered 28 All-Summit League nods.

South Dakota State opens the 2019 Summit League Softball Championship Wednesday with a single-elimination contest against North Dakota. The Jacks earned the fourth seed and will play the Fighting Hawks at 3 p.m. from Tharaldson Park.

-GoJacks.com-

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Players Mentioned

Kendra Conard

Ali Herdliska

Baily Janssen

Yanney Ponce

Megan Rushing

Upcoming Event: Softball versus #3 North Dakota State on May 6, 2026 at 4 p.m.

Completed Event: Softball at North Dakota State on May 2, 2026 , Loss , 2, to, 15 , 5 Inn.

Completed Event: Softball at North Dakota State on May 1, 2026 , Loss , 4, to, 13 , 5 Inn.

Completed Event: Softball at North Dakota State on April 30, 2026 , Loss , 12, to, 13 , 8 Inn.

Cancelled Event: Softball versus St. Thomas

Completed Event: Softball versus St. Thomas on April 24, 2026 , Loss , 1, to, 6

Completed Event: Softball versus St. Thomas on April 24, 2026 , Loss , 5, to, 11

South Dakota State University Athletics