SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota State continues to lead the league standings with a 7-2 record and saw them sweep Western Illinois last week in their home debut. The Jackrabbits were led by Tori Kniesche, who gave up just one hit in two appearances in the circle and threw a no-hitter.
 
Meanwhile, Omaha sits second in the league standings at 6-3 and swept North Dakota on the road. Omaha’s Kamryn Meyer is making a case as the front-runner for the Pitcher of the Year ranking first in wins (12), shutouts (9), strikeouts (160) and opponent batting average (1.47).
 
On the offensive side, SDSU’s Rozelyn Carrillo is having quite performance in league playing, as she leads the league with a .464 batting average with three home runs, 13 RBI and a .821 slugging percentage. Additionally, Carrillo extended her hitting streak to 13 games and belted a grand slam on the road yesterday against Minnesota. Teammate Cylie Halvorson leads the Jackrabbits with 10 home runs and 31 RBI and is on pace to break her own program record of 19 home runs she hit last season.
 
With cold weather forecasted for the Fargo and Grand Forks, N.D. area this weekend, the North Dakota State and Western Illinois series has been moved to Omaha, while the North Dakota and South Dakota series has been moved to Vermillion, S.D.

This Week In The Summit League
Kansas City
April 15 at SDSU (DH)* | 12/2 p.m.
April 15 at SDSU* | 11 a.m.
 
North Dakota
April 15 at South Dakota (DH)* | 12/2 p.m.
April 16 at South Dakota* | 11 a.m.
#Series moved to Vermillion
 
North Dakota State
April 15 vs. WIU (DH)* | 12/2 p.m.
April 16 vs. WIU* | 11 a.m.
#Series moved to Omaha
 
Omaha
April 15 at St. Thomas (DH)* | 12/2 p.m.
April 16 at St. Thomas* | 11 a.m.
April 19 at Creighton | 5 p.m.
 
St. Thomas
April 15 vs. Omaha (DH)* | 12/2 p.m.
April 16 vs. Omaha* | 11 a.m.
April 20 at Iowa State | 4 p.m.
 
South Dakota
April 15 vs. North Dakota (DH)* | 12/2 p.m.
April 16 vs. North Dakota* | 11 a.m.
#Series moved to Vermillion
 
South Dakota State
April 15 vs. Kansas City (DH)* | 12/2 p.m.
April 16 vs. Kansas City* | 11 a.m.
 
Western Illinois
April 15 at NDSU (DH)* | 12/2 p.m.
April 16 at NDSU* | 11 a.m.
#Series moved to Omaha
 
*Summit League game
 
Recent Results
Kansas City // 0-3
April 9-10 at North Dakota State
G1: L, 1-0; G2: L, 4-1; G3: Canceled
April 12 at Kansas: L, 6-4
 
North Dakota // 0-3
April 9-10 vs. Omaha
G1: L, 6-0; G2: L, 3-2 (10); G3: L, 11-2 (5)
April 12 vs. Mayville State: Postponed
 
North Dakota State // 2-0
April 9-10 vs. Kansas City
G1: L, 1-0; G2: L, 4-1; G3: Canceled
 
Omaha // 3-0
April 9-10 at North Dakota
G1: W, 6-0; G2: W, 3-2 (10); G3: W, 11-2 (5)
 
St. Thomas // 1-2
April 9-10 vs. South Dakota
G1: L, 10-2; G2: L, 9-0 (6); G3: W, 8-7
 
South Dakota // 1-2
April 9-10 at St. Thomas
G1: W, 10-2; G2: W, 9-0 (6); G3: L, 8-7
 
South Dakota State // 2-1
April 9-10 vs. Western Illinois
G1: W, 8-0 (6); G2: W, 10-0 (5); G3: W, 8-0 (5)
April 13 at Minnesota: L, 9-8 (8)
 
Western Illinois // 0-3
April 9-10 at South Dakota State
G1: L, 8-0 (6); G2: L, 10-0 (5); G3: L, 8-0 (5)
 
Around The League
• South Dakota State sophomore pitcher Tori Kniesche was named the TicketSmarter #SummitSB Pitcher of the Week after posting two five-inning shutouts over Western Illinois, allowing only one hit, and posting 22 strikeouts, 11 in each game. Her first appearance saw her throw a five-inning no-hitter.
• Kniesche currently ranks second in the Summit League in strikeouts (155) and opponent batting average (.173).
• Omaha senior third basemen Jamie White was named the Player of the Week after she guided the Mavericks to a road sweep of North Dakota, where she batted .538 (7-for-13) with seven RBI, two home runs, including the game-winner in the second game of the series, and a double. White and the Mavericks secured their first league series sweep since 2016.
• Fellow Maverick Kamryn Meyer earned all three wins in the circle against the Fighting Hawks, improving to 12-5 on the year. She struck out 14 batters in her first appearance and eight coming in relief in game two of the series.
• With another shutout under her belt, Meyer has nine total which ranks third in the nation, while her 162 strikeouts is tied for 21st in the country. Furthermore, her 11.2 strikeouts per seven innings is the 12th-best in the nation.
• SDSU sophomore infielder Cheyanne Masterson went 3-for-3 with all three hits resulting in home runs against the Leathernecks. She totaled six RBI and 12 total bases with a 4.000 slugging percentage.
• St. Thomas captured an 8-7 come-from-behind victory against South Dakota on Sunday, down three in the bottom of the seventh inning. Sophomore infielder Sydney Mickett, who had one hit on the season entering play, filled in for injured starter Brooke Ellestad, went 4-for-4 with three RBIs including the game winner to give the Tommies its first home win at the Division I level.
• South Dakota junior third basemen Aleesia Sainz belted her league-leading 11th home run of the season against St. Thomas and had a career-high five RBI in the final game of the series.
• North Dakota State senior pitcher Paige Vargas tossed a three-hit shutout against Kansas City in the series opener. She allowed just four total base runners in a 1-0 victory in seven innings, while recording seven strikeouts to aid in her 11th victory of the season.
• Kansas City senior first basemen Delainey Fenoglio belted her team-leading sixth home run of the season and 14th of her career against Kansas to move into sixth on the all-time home run list in program history.
• Through three weeks of league play, SDSU’s has a quartet of student-athletes leading multiple offensive categories. Rozelyn Carrillo tops the charts with a .464 batting average, a 1.321 OPS and 13 RBI, Cheyanne Masterson leads the league with a .889 slugging percentage and the on-base percentage leader belongs to Allison Yoder.
• Western Illinois fifth-year pitcher Abby Carlin holds a 2.40 ERA with 82 strikeouts across 22 appearances. Her ERA ranks in the top-five among league pitchers this season and her strikeout total is the sixth best.
• North Dakota’s Madi Moore recorded a hit in all three games against Omaha leads the Fighting Hawks in at-bats (123) and hits (38).

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