Completed Event: Softball versus Wayne State on October 18, 2026 ,
/
FINAL
Softball
vs Wayne State
South Dakota State University Athletics
Photo by: Andrew Pedersen
10/28/2026 1:36:00 PM | Softball
South Dakota State took advantage of solid weather over the course of its fall ball schedule to develop and progress as the Jackrabbits' softball program now looks ahead to its 2027 season.
The 2026 fall ball slate featured seven opponents with six visiting the Jacks at Jerald T. Moriarty Field. The competition helped put things into perspective for SDSU coaching staff as they gear up for the next couple months of season preparation.
"Our ability to be consistent is going to be a key for this year's team," said head coach Kristina McSweeney. "I think we have the opportunity to be a really good team this season, but we have to be locked in day-in and day-out. When we are dialed in, we can compete against anybody. The next couple of months for us will be about working on our team chemistry and setting the foundation so we are prepared for every game we step on to the field."
A mix of upperclassmen and underclassmen will be featured throughout South Dakota State's lineup when the spring rolls around.
Jackrabbits entering their fourth seasons in the program and figure to be involved heavily for SDSU are seniors Akayla Barnard, Abby Gentry, Hailey Herman and Quinn Marnocha. Another pitcher that led the Jacks in innings pitched last spring in Madi Mangulis enters her last year of eligibility as well.
Eight different pitchers were used by the Jackrabbits with seven facing outside competition. Of that group, five threw double-digit innings.
The standout statistic that came out of fall competition was SDSU's strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Jackrabbits struck out 60 batters, while walking 34. The SDSU pitching staff also held opponents to a .278 batting average led by Adelaida Sierra's .106 average given up, followed by Lilly Bury's .167 clip. Their 2.69 ERA combined as a staff featured five pitchers with less than 3.00 ERAs accumulated by Sierra and Bury, along with Bernard, Herman and Bella MacMahon.
McSweeney noted a focus on her team comes across the middle of the field looking at the pitching, catcher and middle infield positions. Those spots saw freshmen featured at them getting plenty of opportunities.
The younger faces in the SDSU lineup have helped adjust the Jackrabbits' approach at the plate. The squad expects to be quicker on the base paths following a fall that recorded 24 doubles compared to six home runs. Charlee Latteman hit a team-high five doubles, followed by Gentry and Ella Berlage who each recorded three.
Latteman and Gentry had a team-high nine hits apiece. The two were followed by Bria Riebel who produced eight. Riebel has also had team highs in home runs (3) and RBIs (13) The trio of Berlage, Lola Andrews and Megan Marshall each registered seven hits.
South Dakota State's lineup hit .321. Eleven players batted over .300, while another 11 had on-base percentage over .400 with Marshall carrying a team-best .565 mark.
"I think our offense is going to look a lot different," McSweeney said. "Our newcomers are going to help us move more on the base paths. That group, along with our returners, I think may make us add more to our doubles total than we've had even in the last couple of years."
South Dakota looks to build off its competition this fall. The Jackrabbits will face a challenging slate early in the 2027 season. SDSU will use the next couple of months to get healthy and get physically and mentally prepped for a slew of NCAA Tournament and Power Four opponents.
"We aren't taking things light with this group when February gets here," McSweeney said. "We need to put our best foot forward for every opponent we see early in the season so when The Summit League schedule gets here, we have the right mindset every time we enter the circle and step into the box."
The 2026 fall ball slate featured seven opponents with six visiting the Jacks at Jerald T. Moriarty Field. The competition helped put things into perspective for SDSU coaching staff as they gear up for the next couple months of season preparation.
"Our ability to be consistent is going to be a key for this year's team," said head coach Kristina McSweeney. "I think we have the opportunity to be a really good team this season, but we have to be locked in day-in and day-out. When we are dialed in, we can compete against anybody. The next couple of months for us will be about working on our team chemistry and setting the foundation so we are prepared for every game we step on to the field."
A mix of upperclassmen and underclassmen will be featured throughout South Dakota State's lineup when the spring rolls around.
Jackrabbits entering their fourth seasons in the program and figure to be involved heavily for SDSU are seniors Akayla Barnard, Abby Gentry, Hailey Herman and Quinn Marnocha. Another pitcher that led the Jacks in innings pitched last spring in Madi Mangulis enters her last year of eligibility as well.
Eight different pitchers were used by the Jackrabbits with seven facing outside competition. Of that group, five threw double-digit innings.
The standout statistic that came out of fall competition was SDSU's strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Jackrabbits struck out 60 batters, while walking 34. The SDSU pitching staff also held opponents to a .278 batting average led by Adelaida Sierra's .106 average given up, followed by Lilly Bury's .167 clip. Their 2.69 ERA combined as a staff featured five pitchers with less than 3.00 ERAs accumulated by Sierra and Bury, along with Bernard, Herman and Bella MacMahon.
McSweeney noted a focus on her team comes across the middle of the field looking at the pitching, catcher and middle infield positions. Those spots saw freshmen featured at them getting plenty of opportunities.
The younger faces in the SDSU lineup have helped adjust the Jackrabbits' approach at the plate. The squad expects to be quicker on the base paths following a fall that recorded 24 doubles compared to six home runs. Charlee Latteman hit a team-high five doubles, followed by Gentry and Ella Berlage who each recorded three.
Latteman and Gentry had a team-high nine hits apiece. The two were followed by Bria Riebel who produced eight. Riebel has also had team highs in home runs (3) and RBIs (13) The trio of Berlage, Lola Andrews and Megan Marshall each registered seven hits.
South Dakota State's lineup hit .321. Eleven players batted over .300, while another 11 had on-base percentage over .400 with Marshall carrying a team-best .565 mark.
"I think our offense is going to look a lot different," McSweeney said. "Our newcomers are going to help us move more on the base paths. That group, along with our returners, I think may make us add more to our doubles total than we've had even in the last couple of years."
South Dakota looks to build off its competition this fall. The Jackrabbits will face a challenging slate early in the 2027 season. SDSU will use the next couple of months to get healthy and get physically and mentally prepped for a slew of NCAA Tournament and Power Four opponents.
"We aren't taking things light with this group when February gets here," McSweeney said. "We need to put our best foot forward for every opponent we see early in the season so when The Summit League schedule gets here, we have the right mindset every time we enter the circle and step into the box."
-GoJacks.com-
Players Mentioned
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P
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P
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