KNIESCHE LANDS ON D1 SOFTBALL TOP 100 RANKINGS

BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State rising senior Tori Kniesche was recognized as one of the Top 100 players of the 2023 college softball season by D1 Softball on Thursday, June 22, earning the 71st spot on the organization's D100 list.

The rankings were compiled by DISoftball staff writer Brady Vernon and based on offensive stats, defensive impact, value to their team, advanced metrics and a splash of postseason success.

Kniesche was The Summit League's Pitcher of the Year in 2023 to go along with NFCA All-Midwest Region First Team honors and a nod to The Summit League's All-Academic Softball Team.

The Wayne, Neb., native finished the season with a 24-7 record and 1.57 ERA in 33 appearances (30 starts). She threw 195 2/3 innings and recorded two saves, while she struck out 261 batters and walked 101. She allowed a .152 opponent batting average.

DI Softball noted, "it took 32 innings before Kniesche gave up a run this season. For the second straight season, she surpassed 150 strikeouts as she had a 32 percent whiff rate on her riseball. Kniesche had one of the most impressive weekends for a pitcher this season, striking out 18 in an extra-inning win against Omaha and coming back later in the series to throw 14 scoreless innings to earn a sweep."

Kniesche ended the 2023 campaign as the NCAA statistical champion in shutouts with 14. The Jackrabbit pitcher also finished among the best at the Division I level in several categories including fifth in hits allowed per seven innings (3.58), seventh in strikeouts, 13th in victories, 23rd in innings pitched and 32nd in earned run average. During the season, Kniesche set several program records and is the current SDSU record holder in career wins (63), shutouts (30) and strikeouts (715).

The South Dakota State softball team ended its 2023 season with a 39-19 overall record. The Jackrabbits earned The Summit League's regular season title for the third consecutive year with a 17-0 record in conference play. The SDSU squad advanced to postseason play, participating in the National Invitational Softball Championship, for the fifth straight season.

-GoJacks.com-

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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.

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