Upcoming Event: Men's Golf versus Wildcat Invitational on September 8, 2025
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Men's Golf
vs Wildcat Invitational
South Dakota State University Athletics
Hall of Fame — Donna (Hansen) Mertz
SOFTBALL
Lettered: 1995-97
Inducted: 2022
Donna Hansen was instrumental in a Jackrabbit turnaround on the softball diamond and finished a standout career as South Dakota State's career hitting leader with a .381 batting average from 1994-97.
After being limited to one game during her first season due to injury, Hansen came back strong during the 1995 campaign by batting .461 (53-for-115) en route to being named North Central Conference Freshman of the Year and earning first-team All-Midwest Region honors.
SDSU reached the NCAA postseason for the first time in 1996, hosting the NCAA Division II Central Regional. An infielder from Marcus, Iowa, Hansen batted .357 and stole a team-high 17 bases for a Jackrabbit team that compiled a 43-22 record during the 1996 season, then posted a .353 average with a team-best 33 runs batted in during her final season as a Jackrabbit in 1997 for a squad that finished 31-19.
At the time of her induction, Hansen continued to hold top-10 placings on the SDSU career charts for hits (182), runs (112), slugging percentage (.531), doubles (32), RBIs (96), stolen bases (30), on-base percentage (.429) and assists (323).
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Photo Gallery
Induction Introduction and Speech
Lettered: 1995-97
Inducted: 2022
Donna Hansen was instrumental in a Jackrabbit turnaround on the softball diamond and finished a standout career as South Dakota State's career hitting leader with a .381 batting average from 1994-97.
After being limited to one game during her first season due to injury, Hansen came back strong during the 1995 campaign by batting .461 (53-for-115) en route to being named North Central Conference Freshman of the Year and earning first-team All-Midwest Region honors.
SDSU reached the NCAA postseason for the first time in 1996, hosting the NCAA Division II Central Regional. An infielder from Marcus, Iowa, Hansen batted .357 and stole a team-high 17 bases for a Jackrabbit team that compiled a 43-22 record during the 1996 season, then posted a .353 average with a team-best 33 runs batted in during her final season as a Jackrabbit in 1997 for a squad that finished 31-19.
At the time of her induction, Hansen continued to hold top-10 placings on the SDSU career charts for hits (182), runs (112), slugging percentage (.531), doubles (32), RBIs (96), stolen bases (30), on-base percentage (.429) and assists (323).
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Photo Gallery
Induction Introduction and Speech