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South Dakota State University Athletics
Akayla Barnard
Photo by: Stephen McDaniel
SUMMIT PRESEASON POLL ANNOUNCED, BARNARD & GENTRY RECOGNIZED
2/4/2026 11:03:00 AM | Softball
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota State's Akayla Barnard and Abby Gentry were recognized, while the Jackrabbits were picked to finish third, as a part of the 2026 Summit League Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll announced on Wednesday.Â
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South Dakota State finished third in The Summit League's regular season standings a season ago. The Jackrabbits went 13-5 in conference play and 29-26 overall. The Jacks were picked to take third in the 2026 preseason coaches' poll with 25 points behind Omaha (35) and St. Thomas (32). The Mavericks garnered five first-place votes and the Tommies earned two.
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Following SDSU in the coaches' poll were South Dakota (20), North Dakota (16), North Dakota State (13) and Kansas City (6).Â
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South Dakota State also had two student-athletes chosen as The Summit League's Players to Watch. Barnard was selected as the Jackrabbits' Pitcher to Watch and Gentry was picked as the Player to Watch. Both were First Team All-Summit League performers last season.Â
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Barnard has pitched in 26 games over the course of her first two collegiate seasons. She's logged 10 wins in the circle for SDSU and pitched over 75 innings. Along with her experience in pitching, Barnard was the Jacks' everyday starter in center field last year. As a sophomore, Barnard produced career highs in hits (45), home runs (7), RBIs (34), batting average (.278) and slugging percentage (.481).
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Gentry was honored as the 2025 Summit League Player of the Year and an NFCA All-Region 1st Team selection. She served as SDSU's everyday starter at third base. Gentry batted .427 behind 70 hits with 16 doubles, nine home runs, 37 runs scored and 56 RBIs. Several of her offensive totals ranked among single-season bests in program history, which included SDSU's highest batting average at the DI level and second-best on-base percentage (.503). Â
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South Dakota State gets its 2026 season started at the East Texas A&M Leadoff in Commerce on Friday. The Jackrabbits' regular season leads into its Summit League slate which starts on March 20. The Summit League Softball Championship tournament takes place in the Twin Cities from May 6-9.Â
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South Dakota State finished third in The Summit League's regular season standings a season ago. The Jackrabbits went 13-5 in conference play and 29-26 overall. The Jacks were picked to take third in the 2026 preseason coaches' poll with 25 points behind Omaha (35) and St. Thomas (32). The Mavericks garnered five first-place votes and the Tommies earned two.
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Following SDSU in the coaches' poll were South Dakota (20), North Dakota (16), North Dakota State (13) and Kansas City (6).Â
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South Dakota State also had two student-athletes chosen as The Summit League's Players to Watch. Barnard was selected as the Jackrabbits' Pitcher to Watch and Gentry was picked as the Player to Watch. Both were First Team All-Summit League performers last season.Â
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Barnard has pitched in 26 games over the course of her first two collegiate seasons. She's logged 10 wins in the circle for SDSU and pitched over 75 innings. Along with her experience in pitching, Barnard was the Jacks' everyday starter in center field last year. As a sophomore, Barnard produced career highs in hits (45), home runs (7), RBIs (34), batting average (.278) and slugging percentage (.481).
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Gentry was honored as the 2025 Summit League Player of the Year and an NFCA All-Region 1st Team selection. She served as SDSU's everyday starter at third base. Gentry batted .427 behind 70 hits with 16 doubles, nine home runs, 37 runs scored and 56 RBIs. Several of her offensive totals ranked among single-season bests in program history, which included SDSU's highest batting average at the DI level and second-best on-base percentage (.503). Â
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South Dakota State gets its 2026 season started at the East Texas A&M Leadoff in Commerce on Friday. The Jackrabbits' regular season leads into its Summit League slate which starts on March 20. The Summit League Softball Championship tournament takes place in the Twin Cities from May 6-9.Â
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