SCOUTING THE SOUTH DAKOTA STATE JACKRABBITS
Head Coach: Krista Wood
Career: 504-314 (16)
SDSU: 243-161 (8)
The Jackrabbits earned the No. 1 seed for the second straight year after finishing 37-10 overall and 18-2 in league play. SDSU fell in league play to both the Mavericks and Coyotes for the two losses. They finished the regular season on an 11-0 win streak and 12-0 on their home field where this season's league tournament will be played. SDSU brought home Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, and Coach of the Year honors. Eight Jackrabbits earned all-league honors.
JACKRABBITS TO WATCH
• Rozelyn Carrillo was tabbed the Player of the Year and named All-Summit first team. She started every game at shortstop and takes a 24-game hitting streak into the tournament. Carrillo is hitting .405 on the year with a team-best 62 hits, including 12 doubles and 11 homers.
• In the circle, Tori Kniesche continues to dominate for the Jackrabbits. She posts a 1.56 ERA and a 16-5 recorded through 27 appearances and 22 starts. She has eight shutouts, three saves, and 227 strikeouts.
• Grace Glanzer was tabbed Pitcher of the Year with a 1.80 ERA, 19 wins, and just 127 strikeouts on the year.
SCOUTING THE OMAHA MAVERICKS
Head Coach: Mike Heard
Career: 29-12 (1)
Omaha: 181-108 (7)
The Mavericks earned the No. 2 seed for the second straight year after posting a29-12 overall record and 17-4 finish in league play. Omaha closed the regular season on an 11-game win streak. Omaha's 29 wins is the most since the 2016 season when the squad notched 30 that year. The 17 league wins goes down as the most in conference action since the Division I transition. Four Mavericks were tabbed All-League on Tuesday. They took home two first team and two second team honors.
MAVERICKS TO WATCH
• Eltze was tabbed to the first team for her second career honor. Eltze led Omaha at the plate hitting .385 over 41 starts in the outfield. She also led the Mavericks with nine homers. She finished the regular season with 55 hits, 35 runs, and 29 RBI.
• White and Tucker were named to the second team. White hit .364 on the year with 40 hits, including 10 double and nine homers. She hit in a team-high 32 RBI. Tucker hit .342 this season. She led the Mavericks with 16 stolen bases.
• Meyer was named to the first team after leading the league and ranking nationally in five major stat categories. Meyer has a 1.13 ERA heading into the tournament with a league-leading and single-season record 260 strikeouts. She is 20-5 on the year.
SCOUTING THE NORTH DAKOTA STATE BISON
Head Coach: Darren Mueller
Career: 698-416 (21)
NDSU: Same
The Bison posted a 28-21 overall record through the regular season with a 10-8 conference finish. For the second straight year, they earned the No. 3 seed and open the tournament with state rival No. 6 North Dakota. UND handed NDSU a loss earlier this month and challenged them in the second meeting. Five Bison were named All-Summit. Two took home first team honors, while three were named to the second team.
BISON TO WATCH
• Dez Carednas is hitting .353 earning her a spot on the first team. She has 55 hits, including 13 doubles, two triples, and one homer. She also has 29 runs and 29 RBI on the year.
• Joining her on the first team, is teammate Cameryn Maykut. She's hitting .331 at the plate with 51 hits. She leads the Bison with 48 RBI and has 29 runs.
• In the circle, Paige Vargas has been the go-to for NDSU. She has made 29 appearances, 24 starts, and logged 17 complete games. Vargas has a 14-9 record with a 2.32 ERA, four shutouts, and 140 strikeouts heading into the tournament.
SCOUTING THE SOUTH DAKOTA COYOTES
Head Coach: Robert Wagner
Career: 155-204 (7)
USD: 123-178 (6)
The Coyotes sit at 27-23 overall and 11-10 in league play heading into the conference tournament. They earned the No. 4 seed, which is one spot higher than last season's performance. South Dakota took league wins against NDSU, SDSU, St. Thomas, North Dakota, and Western Illinois. The Yotes suffered sweeps to Omaha and Kansas City.
COYOTES TO WATCH
• Aleesia Sainz was named to the first team after batting .346 on the year. She led the Yotes with 11 homers and 42 RBI. Sainz leads USD with 32 walks this year. She boats an on-base percentage of 1.182 and is 6-for-6 on stolen bases.
• Joining her on the first team is Jordyn Pender. Pender started 17 games at catcher, two at first base, and 26 as the DP. She ranks eighth in the league and leads the Coyotes hitting .347. She's totaled four home runs, eight doubles, and 32 RBI on the year.
• Edwards has appeared in 38 games this season making 29 starts in the circle. She was tabbed second team after posting a 15-13 record, 2.77 ERA, six shutouts, five saves, and 114 strikeouts in the regular season.
SCOUTING THE KANSAS CITY ROOS
Head Coach: Kerry Shaw
Career: 103-159 (6)
KC: 48-72 (3)
The Roos went 13-33 overall in the regular season and finished 9-11 in league play for the No. 5 seed at the Summit League Tournament. Kansas City closed the year with a series sweep over South Dakota after being swept by the Mavericks. The Roos faced a tough non-conference schedule logging 10 games vs. ranked or receiving votes opponents. Three Roos were tabbed All-Summit.
ROOS TO WATCH
• Kloe Hilbrenner earned Kansas City's lone first team accolade. She ranks 16th in the NCAA and leads the league with 30 stolen bases. She is itting .372 with 58 hits, including 12 doubles, four triples, and six homers.
• Ally Vonfeldt was tabbed to the second team. She holds a .453 slugging percentage, with nine doubles, two triples, four home runs, and a team-high 26 runs scored.
• Mia Hoveland was named Second Team after posting a 4,93 ERA and 6-14 record over 22 starts. She notched three shutouts and 88 strikeouts over 117 innings of work.
SCOUTING THE NORTH DAKOTA FIGHTING HAWKS
Head Coach: Jordan Stevens
Career: 301-367-1 (13)
UND: 138-263 (8)
The Fighting Hawks finished the regular season 14-38 overall. They earned the No. 6 seed with a 4-16 record in league play. North Dakota took league wins vs. North Dakota State, St. Thomas, Western Illinois, and Kansas City. SDSU and Omaha swept the Hawks. This marks the second consecutive season UND comes in as the No. 6 seed to face NDSU.
FIGHTING HAWKS TO WATCH
• Madi Moore leads the Fighting Hawks batting .356. She has a team-best 58 hits, including one double and one triple. Moore has seven RBI and 15 runs scored this season. She's also 8-for-13 on stolen bases. Moore was tabbed first Team All-Summit and was the lone recognition for North Dakota this year.
• Chevelle Sartin is hitting .255 on the year. Sartin leads the Fighting Hawks with 10 doubles. Her 16 RBI is also a team-best this season.
• In the circle, Jannay Jones has made 23 starts and 25 appearances for North Dakota. She has a 6-16 record going into the week. Jones notched two shutouts, two saves, and 73 strikeouts over 130.2 innings of work.
