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South Dakota State University Athletics
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STATE PICKED TO REPEAT AS SUMMIT CHAMPS
2/9/2022 11:05:00 AM | Softball
SIOUX FALLSÂ - After a historic 2021 season, the South Dakota State softball team has been selected to finish first in the 2022 Summit League Preseason Poll, the league office announced Wednesday. Tori Kniesche and Cylie Halvorson were named to the league's Players to Watch list.
SDSU picked up 49 points and seven first-place votes in the poll. North Dakota State and Kansas City were selected to tie for second place with 38 points each with the Bison getting the final first-place vote.
The Jackrabbits enter the 2022 season following a 2021 campaign that saw the Jacks finish 43-8 (21-1 SUMMIT) and win its first-ever regular season and tournament Summit League titles. SDSU made the first NCAA Tournament berth in program history and picked up its first NCAA Regional win in the process, defeating Stanford 7-1 in the first game of the Fayetteville Regional.
The Jacks return all nine batters who compiled at least 20 total bases last season, including the 2021 Player of the Year in Halvorson. She shattered the school record, ranked 15th nationally and led the league with 19 home runs. Halvorson also averaged at the plate .352 en route to being named to the NFCA All-Region Second Team. The sophomore batted in 59 runs which was the second-most in a season in school history, led the Summit League and ranked seventh in the country.
Kniesche, the 2021 Summit League Pitcher of the Year, was named to the NFCA All-Region First Team after she posted a 1.57 ERA, which was the sixth-best mark in school history. She allowed just 3.50 hits per seven innings, the eighth-best mark in the country.
The Jackrabbits open the 2022 season Friday at the Doc Halvorson UNI-Dome Classic in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
2022 Summit League Preseason Players to Watch
Note: Players to Watch nominated by league's head coaches
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Kansas City
Kloe Hilbrenner, OF
Mia Hoveland, P
Â
North Dakota
Alexys Campos, OF
Jannay Jones, P
Â
North Dakota State
Lainey Lyle, P
Avery Wysong, C
Â
Omaha
Kamryn Meyer, P
Jamie White, INF
Â
St. Thomas
Sarah Hudson, 3B
Brooke Ellestad, SS
Â
South Dakota
Courtney Wilson, OF
Lauren Eamiguel, INF
Â
South Dakota State
Tori Kniesche, P
Cylie Halvorson, INF
Â
Western Illinois
Abby Carlin, P
Savannah Rodriguez, DP
-GoJacks.com-
SDSU picked up 49 points and seven first-place votes in the poll. North Dakota State and Kansas City were selected to tie for second place with 38 points each with the Bison getting the final first-place vote.
The Jackrabbits enter the 2022 season following a 2021 campaign that saw the Jacks finish 43-8 (21-1 SUMMIT) and win its first-ever regular season and tournament Summit League titles. SDSU made the first NCAA Tournament berth in program history and picked up its first NCAA Regional win in the process, defeating Stanford 7-1 in the first game of the Fayetteville Regional.
The Jacks return all nine batters who compiled at least 20 total bases last season, including the 2021 Player of the Year in Halvorson. She shattered the school record, ranked 15th nationally and led the league with 19 home runs. Halvorson also averaged at the plate .352 en route to being named to the NFCA All-Region Second Team. The sophomore batted in 59 runs which was the second-most in a season in school history, led the Summit League and ranked seventh in the country.
Kniesche, the 2021 Summit League Pitcher of the Year, was named to the NFCA All-Region First Team after she posted a 1.57 ERA, which was the sixth-best mark in school history. She allowed just 3.50 hits per seven innings, the eighth-best mark in the country.
The Jackrabbits open the 2022 season Friday at the Doc Halvorson UNI-Dome Classic in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
2022 Summit League Preseason Players to Watch
Note: Players to Watch nominated by league's head coaches
Â
Kansas City
Kloe Hilbrenner, OF
Mia Hoveland, P
Â
North Dakota
Alexys Campos, OF
Jannay Jones, P
Â
North Dakota State
Lainey Lyle, P
Avery Wysong, C
Â
Omaha
Kamryn Meyer, P
Jamie White, INF
Â
St. Thomas
Sarah Hudson, 3B
Brooke Ellestad, SS
Â
South Dakota
Courtney Wilson, OF
Lauren Eamiguel, INF
Â
South Dakota State
Tori Kniesche, P
Cylie Halvorson, INF
Â
Western Illinois
Abby Carlin, P
Savannah Rodriguez, DP
-GoJacks.com-
Players Mentioned
IF
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P
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