Softball

USD’s Moser, SDSU’s Kniesche, WIU’s Rodriguez garner season-opening TicketSmarter #SummitSB weekly honors

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota, South Dakota State and Western Illinois were each represented among the season’s first TicketSmarter Summit League Softball Peak Performer and Pitcher of the Week awards, announced on Monday by League officials. Gabby Moser of USD earned the Peak Performer of the Week, while SDSU’s Tori Kniesche and WIU’s Savannah Rodriguez shared the Peak Pitcher of the Week honors.
 
Moser led the Coyotes to a pair of wins at the season-opening UNI Dome Tournament by going 7-for-7 with a home run, two doubles, two walks and 10 RBI. The Central City, Neb., native opened the campaign by hitting a three-run home run in her first at bat against Drake. Moser tacked on two additional hits in the 12-9 victory over the Bulldogs.
 
In the 9-6 win against Northern Iowa, Moser recorded a four-hit game and drove in seven runs, which were the most by a Coyote in 10 years. She went 3-for-3 with a walk against the defending Missouri Valley Conference champion Panthers. In total, Moser reached base safely in all nine of her plate appearances and posted a 1.714 slugging percentage.
 
Kniesche made three appearances in the circle for the Jackrabbits and did not give up a run in 16 combined innings at the Houston Invitational and Bearkat Classic. The Wayne, Neb., native opened the season with a win over Nebraska where she allowed three hits and struck out five Huskers while not giving up a walk in a complete-game shutout.
 
She followed that up with her sixth career no-hitter in a win against Sam Houston in which she struck out nine Beakkats. She closed out SDSU's opening weekend by picking up a save in two innings of scoreless relief against Northwestern State. In total, Kniesche notched a 0.00 ERA with 18 strikeouts, while holding opponents to just a .080 batting average.
 
Rodriguez went 3-0 in the circle for Western Illinois at the Rosemont Dome Tournament. The Woodridge, Ill., native got things started by pitching the first perfect game by a Leatherneck in nearly 23 years as the fifth-year senior struck out 12 of the 21 Detroit Mercy batters she faced. She followed that record-breaking outing by earning a win in relief against Saint Louis. She worked 2.1 innings and struck out two Billikens in the 4-3 triumph.

Rodriguez capped the weekend with her third win in a complete-game shutout over Bowling Green, allowing three hits and striking out 11. In total, she worked 16.1 innings and posted a 0.43 ERA to go with 25 strikeouts.
  
PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Gabby Moser, South Dakota
Jr. | Outfield | Central City, Neb.
  • Went 7-for-7 with a home run, two doubles, two walks and 10 RBI in a pair of wins inside the UNI Dome
  • Hit a three-run home run in her first at-bat of the season against Drake, totaling four hits and seven RBI in the contest
  • Went 3-for-3 with a walk in a win over defending Missouri Valley champion Northern Iowa
  • Reached base safely in all nine plate appearances and posted a 1.714 slugging percentage
  • This is the first career Summit League weekly honor for Moser
Also nominated: Lexy Smith (Kansas City), Kaylee Ketcherside (Western Illinois), Mia Jarecki (South Dakota State), Lyndsey Tucker (Omaha).
 
CO-PEAK PITCHERS OF THE WEEK
Tori Kniesche, South Dakota State
Jr. | Pitcher | Wayne, Neb.
  • Made three appearances over the weekend and did not give up a run in 16 innings of work
  • Claimed her first win of the season over Nebraska, allowing three hits and striking out five with no walks in a complete-game shutout
  • Recorded her sixth career no hitter in a win against Sam Houston where she struck out nine
  • Closed out SDSU's opening weekend by picking up a two-inning save with four strikeouts against Northwestern State
  • Registered a 0.00 ERA and held opponents to a .080 batting average
  • This is the eighth career Summit League weekly accolade for Kniesche  
Savannah Rodriguez, Western Illinois
Gr. | Pitcher | Woodridge, Ill.
  • Threw a seven-inning perfect game in the season-opening 2-0 victory over Detroit Mercy using 88 pitches to strike out 12 batters
  • Earned the win in relief against Saint Louis, pitching 2.1 innings and striking out two in the 4-3 triumph
  • Ended the weekend with a complete-game shutout over Bowling Green, allowing three hits and striking out 11
  • Finished the weekend with a 3-0 record and a 0.43 ERA, allowing six hits and striking out 25 batters in 16.1 innings of work
  • This is the first career Summit League weekly honor for Rodriguez
Also nominated: Camryn Stickel (Kansas City), Kamryn Meyer (Omaha).
 
2023 Softball Weekly Award Winners
February 13
Peak Performer: Bela Goerke, South Dakota
Co-Peak Pitcher: Tori Kniesche, South Dakota State
Co-Peak Pitcher: Savannah Rodriguez, Western Illinois

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