SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – North Dakota State infielder Bella Dean and South Dakota State pitcher Tori Kniesche garnered the latest TicketSmarter Summit League Softball Peak Performer and Pitcher of the Week accolades, respectively, league officials announced on Monday.
Dean jump started a pair of Bison comebacks over the weekend with a pair of clutch home runs. The Sherrard, Ill., native hit her first career home run in the sixth inning to score the first run in a nine unanswered run comeback win against Idaho State.
Dean hit an RBI double for the opening run of the game against Drake and tied the game in the top of the seventh inning with her second home run of the weekend. NDSU would go on to add two more runs in the inning to come from behind again. She hit .375 overall, slugged 1.250 and also had a walk for a .444 on-base percentage.
Kniesche picked up two victories at the Jayhawk Invitational and started it off with a complete game shutout win against Central Arkansas. The Wayne, Neb., native threw seven innings and gave up just three hits and two walks with a season-high 10 strikeouts against the Sugar Bears.
Against Kansas, Kniesche led the Jackrabbits to a 2-1 win where she threw another complete game outing with eight strikeouts and gave up one run on three hits. She lowered her ERA on the season to 1.94 which ranks second in the league.
PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Bella Dean, North Dakota State
Fr. | DP/1B | Sherrard, Ill.
- Batted .375 with three hits, two of them being home runs and three RBI
- Slugged 1.250 overall and recorded a .444 on-base percentage
- Hit her first career home run against Idaho State and tied the game with a home run against Drake
- This is the first career Summit League weekly honor for Dean
Also nominated: Emma Osmundson (South Dakota State), Bela Goerke (North Dakota), Ally Vonfeldt (Kansas City).
PEAK PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Tori Kniesche, South Dakota State
Jr. | Pitcher | Wayne, Neb.
- Picked up two wins with a pair of complete game victories
- Completed a shutout and gave up one run in victories over Central Arkansas and Kansas, respectively
- Struck out 18 combined batters and held opponents to a .125 batting average
- This is the 10th career Summit League weekly award for Kniesche
Also nominated: Paige Vargas (North Dakota State), Clara Edwards (South Dakota), Audrey Danielson (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
February 20
Peak Performer: Emma Osmundson, South Dakota State
Peak Pitcher: Tori Kniesche, South Dakota State
February 27
Peak Performer: Katie Goelz, St. Thomas
Peak Pitcher: Paige Vargas, North Dakota State
March 6
Peak Performer: Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage, North Dakota State
Peak Pitcher: Kamryn Meyer, Omaha
March 13
Peak Performer: Bella Dean, North Dakota State
Peak Pitcher: Tori Kniesche, South Dakota State
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