SDSU PICKED FIRST IN PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota State, the two-time defending Summit League champions, was picked in the conference's Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll as the favorite for the 2023 title.

The Jackrabbits received six of a possible eight first-place votes and led the poll with 48 points. SDSU is coming off back-to-back 40-win seasons and NCAA tournament appearances.

Following SDSU in the poll was Omaha and North Dakota State. Both teams claimed a first-place ballot, but the Mavericks narrowly slotted ahead of the Bison with 41 points to 40 for NDSU. The standings rounded out with South Dakota (28), Kansas City (25), St. Thomas (19), North Dakota (16) and Western Illinois (7).

The Summit League also recognized Players to Watch for the upcoming season. The Jackrabbits' representatives on the list were Rozelyn Carrillo and Tori Kniesche.

Carrillo was the 2022 Summit League Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. An NFCA All-Midwest Region Second Team selection, Carrillo hit .389 last season and recorded 11 home runs and 47 RBIs. The SDSU shortstop started all 54 games in 2022 and registered a school-record 24 game hit streak over the course of the campaign.

Kniesche followed up her 2021 Pitcher of the Year as a freshman with a sophomore season in 2022 that saw her Summit League First Team and NFCA All-Midwest Region First Team honors. Kniesche went 18-5 with a school-record ERA of 1.42. The Wayne, Neb., native threw three no-hitters and her 10 shoutouts were seventh in Division I softball. She also had top-10 NCAA marks in striekouts per seven innings (11.5) and hits allowed per seven innings (3.52).

South Dakota State begins its 2023 season on Friday playing a doubleheader in Houston, Texas. The Jackrabbits open play at 12:30 p.m. against last year's Big Ten champion in Nebraska, then take on host Houston at 3 p.m.

2023 Summit League Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank	School	Points (1^st)	2022 Record (SL)
1.	South Dakota State	48 (6)	41-13 (18-2)
2.	Omaha	41 (1)	32-14 (17-4)
3.	North Dakota State	40 (1)	30-23 (10-8)
4.	South Dakota	28	28-25 (11-10)
5.	Kansas City	25	13-34 (9-11)
6.	St. Thomas	19	14-36 (8-13)
7.	North Dakota	16	14-39 (4-17)
8.	Western Illinois	7	8-37 (4-17)

-GoJacks.com-

Calendar

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Players Mentioned

Rozelyn Carrillo

Tori Kniesche

Completed Event: Softball versus Augustana on October 5, 2025 ,

Completed Event: Softball versus Minnesota Crookston on September 28, 2025 ,

Completed Event: Softball versus Sioux Falls / Morningside on September 21, 2025 ,

Completed Event: Softball versus SMSU on September 14, 2025 ,

Completed Event: Softball versus #3 South Dakota on May 9, 2025 , Loss , 2, to, 3 , 8 Inn.

Completed Event: Softball versus #1 Omaha on May 9, 2025 , Loss , 6, to, 8 , 9 Inn.

South Dakota State University Athletics