Completed Event: Softball versus #1 Omaha on May 8, 2026 , Loss , 0, to, 8 , 5 Inn.
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FINAL
Softball
0
(5 Inn.)
vs #1 Omaha
8
South Dakota State University Athletics
2027 Softball Roster
Jersey Number 21
Akayla Barnard
- Position:
- Outfield/Pitcher
- Height:
- 5-7
- Class:
- Senior
- High School:
- Cabot H.S.
- Hometown:
- Cabot, Ark.
PRONUNCIATION
HONORS & AWARDS
2026: Played in 58 games and started in every appearance during the season ... batted .324 with 17 home runs, 46 RBIs, scored 54 runs and produced 13 doubles ... finished second among Summit League players in runs scored and home runs, fifth in RBIs and doubles, as well as sixth in hits (58) and slugging percentage (.704) ... set program’s single-season runs scored record during conference tournament eventually finishing with 54 ... finished among program’s top 10 in a single season in multiple categories including second in total bases (123), third in home runs, sixth in slugging percentage and ninth in RBIs ... had two separate games at the plate recording five RBIs (Feb. 13 at SFA, March 7 at Northern Colorado) which rank seventh most ever in a game in program history ... tied single game runs record being plated four times in an April 30 meeting at North Dakota State ... produced 17 multi-hit games including two showings with three hits ... scored multiple runs in 15 different games ... recorded two home runs in the April 30 game at NDSU ... also pitched in 19 games and made 12 starts ... finished season with a 5-4 record and 4.54 ERA ... struck out 31 batters and walked 28 ... had four complete games with two coming in Summit League play as shutout performances versus South Dakota and North Dakota ... chosen as an All-Summit League Second Team performer ... named to the Summit League All-Tournament Team ... hit a home run and had three RBIs in an opening round game versus NDSU, then registered another two hits and drove a run while being plated once in a victory the next day against St. Thomas ... high performer in the classroom earning Academic All-Summit League, CSC Academic All-District and Easton/NFCA Scholar Athlete accolades ... through junior season ranks in program history in career categories seventh in slugging percentage (.556), home run (25) and triples (9), 10th in walks (65) and 13th in runs (112) and on-base percentage (.385).
2025: Appeared and started in 54 games … as a pitcher, she appeared in 14 games and made 13 starts … posted a 4.46 ERA while striking out 32 in 42 1/3 innings of work … at the plate she hit .278 behind 45 hits including six doubles, three triples, and seven home runs … recorded 34 RBIs and scored 37 runs … had 12 multi-hit games with a four-hit performance against Omaha (May 9) … drove in five RBIs which included a grand slam in a March 11 victory over Northern Illinois ... recorded career high in strikeouts with seven against SFA (February 7) … earned All-Summit League First Team honors.
2024: Appeared in 35 games with 32 starts … made 12 showings in the circle with four starts … posted a 5-2 record including a complete game shutout against Texas A&M Commerce (February 16) … struck out 27 in 33 2/3 innings of work with a 4.16 ERA … in the box hit .253 behind 24 hits, with three doubles, four triples and a home run … also stole three bases and drove in 12 runs while scoring 21 times … had six multi-hit games and two multi-RBI games including a three RBI game against Fresno State (February 8)
Before SDSU: A multiple year standout for Cabot High School … led the Panthers to back-to-back conference titles Arkansas Class 6A Championship runner-up finishes … a three-time All-State First Team performer and all-conference selection, as well as two-time All-State Tournament Team accolades … high performer in the circle as well as offensively for Cabot … as a senior led Cabot to a 21-3 record … during the season threw 108 1/3 innings and had a 1.62 ERA struck out 182 batters … had a 15-strikeout appearance in the Class 6A semifinals while giving up one hit … finished 2023 with a .507 batting average to go along with 14 home runs, 43 RBIs, 33 runs scored, four doubles and a .544 on-base percentage … claimed her team’s Offensive Player of the Year award as a junior and was Cabot’s Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore … a 4.0 GPA student in high school … plans to major in education at South Dakota State University.
HONORS & AWARDS
- 2026 Summit League All-Tournament Team
- 2026 All-Summit League Second Team
- 2025 All-Summit League First Team
- 2025 & 2026 Academic All-Summit League Team
- 2025 & 2026 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
- 2024-25 Summit League Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence
- 2023-24 & 2024-25 Summit League Academic Honor Roll
- Three-time Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete (2024-26)
- Program Record Holder - Single Season Runs Scored (2026 - 54 Runs)
2026: Played in 58 games and started in every appearance during the season ... batted .324 with 17 home runs, 46 RBIs, scored 54 runs and produced 13 doubles ... finished second among Summit League players in runs scored and home runs, fifth in RBIs and doubles, as well as sixth in hits (58) and slugging percentage (.704) ... set program’s single-season runs scored record during conference tournament eventually finishing with 54 ... finished among program’s top 10 in a single season in multiple categories including second in total bases (123), third in home runs, sixth in slugging percentage and ninth in RBIs ... had two separate games at the plate recording five RBIs (Feb. 13 at SFA, March 7 at Northern Colorado) which rank seventh most ever in a game in program history ... tied single game runs record being plated four times in an April 30 meeting at North Dakota State ... produced 17 multi-hit games including two showings with three hits ... scored multiple runs in 15 different games ... recorded two home runs in the April 30 game at NDSU ... also pitched in 19 games and made 12 starts ... finished season with a 5-4 record and 4.54 ERA ... struck out 31 batters and walked 28 ... had four complete games with two coming in Summit League play as shutout performances versus South Dakota and North Dakota ... chosen as an All-Summit League Second Team performer ... named to the Summit League All-Tournament Team ... hit a home run and had three RBIs in an opening round game versus NDSU, then registered another two hits and drove a run while being plated once in a victory the next day against St. Thomas ... high performer in the classroom earning Academic All-Summit League, CSC Academic All-District and Easton/NFCA Scholar Athlete accolades ... through junior season ranks in program history in career categories seventh in slugging percentage (.556), home run (25) and triples (9), 10th in walks (65) and 13th in runs (112) and on-base percentage (.385).
2025: Appeared and started in 54 games … as a pitcher, she appeared in 14 games and made 13 starts … posted a 4.46 ERA while striking out 32 in 42 1/3 innings of work … at the plate she hit .278 behind 45 hits including six doubles, three triples, and seven home runs … recorded 34 RBIs and scored 37 runs … had 12 multi-hit games with a four-hit performance against Omaha (May 9) … drove in five RBIs which included a grand slam in a March 11 victory over Northern Illinois ... recorded career high in strikeouts with seven against SFA (February 7) … earned All-Summit League First Team honors.
2024: Appeared in 35 games with 32 starts … made 12 showings in the circle with four starts … posted a 5-2 record including a complete game shutout against Texas A&M Commerce (February 16) … struck out 27 in 33 2/3 innings of work with a 4.16 ERA … in the box hit .253 behind 24 hits, with three doubles, four triples and a home run … also stole three bases and drove in 12 runs while scoring 21 times … had six multi-hit games and two multi-RBI games including a three RBI game against Fresno State (February 8)
Before SDSU: A multiple year standout for Cabot High School … led the Panthers to back-to-back conference titles Arkansas Class 6A Championship runner-up finishes … a three-time All-State First Team performer and all-conference selection, as well as two-time All-State Tournament Team accolades … high performer in the circle as well as offensively for Cabot … as a senior led Cabot to a 21-3 record … during the season threw 108 1/3 innings and had a 1.62 ERA struck out 182 batters … had a 15-strikeout appearance in the Class 6A semifinals while giving up one hit … finished 2023 with a .507 batting average to go along with 14 home runs, 43 RBIs, 33 runs scored, four doubles and a .544 on-base percentage … claimed her team’s Offensive Player of the Year award as a junior and was Cabot’s Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore … a 4.0 GPA student in high school … plans to major in education at South Dakota State University.
Friday, May 08
Wednesday, May 06
Monday, May 04
Tuesday, April 28
