May 7, 2026

MADISON, S.D. – Three Dakota State (S.D.) softball athletes earned postseason awards during the inaugural Frontier Conference awards night on April 30 in Dickinson, N.D., on the eve of the conference tournament.  The conference announced their all-conference teams, Gold Glove team (defensive performance), and postseason awards.

Outfielder Hannah McFarland completed her softball career at Dakota State as a four-time All-Conference recipient, earning the First Team distinction for the third consecutive year.  She was also named to the Gold Glove team for the third straight year.

It was the second straight year that the Trojans had a player concluding their career as a four-time All-Conference recipient (Michelle Evdos from 2022-25).

McFarland led the team with .405 batting average (53-of-131) and an OPS of 1.007.  She also led the team with .503 on-base percentage.  She produced .504 with nine doubles, two triples, and 42 singles.  She drew 28 walks and swiped 15 bases.

McFarland registered a batting average of .391 and an OPS of .990 during 24 Frontier Conference contests this season for DSU. 

Defensively, McFarland recorded a fielding percentage of .980 as the center fielder for Dakota State.  She collected 51 total chances with 49 put-outs, one assist, and committed just one defensive error. 

McFarland is listed in numerous school records, including new school single season records of walks drawn (28).  She established new all-time records of at-bats with 528 (previously held by Tatum Ronke with 518 at-bats from 2016-19), runs scored with 137 (broke Mackenzie Sims' record of 99 runs from 2021-24), stolen bases with 80 (previously held by Carrington Entringer in 2022-23 and Lori Olen in 2004-07 with 53 stolen bases), and walks drawn with 89 (previous school record held by Evdos with 71 walks in 2022-25).

In addition, McFarland was third all-time with 196 hits, tied for 7^th all-time total bases with 243, and tied for seventh all-time with 39 doubles. She posted the 10^th best all-time batting average of .371.

Pitcher Maycee Bricker was selected to the Frontier Conference Second Team All-Conference At-Large position.  She finished the season with a 9-13 pitching record in the circle and produced an earned run average of 4.33 in 129 1/3 total innings.

Bricker appeared in the pitching circle for 30 games this season for DSU, starting 25 times.  She posted an ERA of 4.03 and a 6-7 pitching record during 15 Frontier Conference appearances.  She worked for 74 2/3 innings in the league and registered 33 strikeouts.

She tied for eighth most single season pitching wins with nine victories (with Angela Slattery in 2022, Katie Slibowski in 2013, and Dakota Novotny twice in 2007 and 2008). 

Bricker ranks third all-time in innings pitched at DSU since 2023, tossing 442 2/3 career innings.  She is also fifth all-time with 223 strikeouts, sixth best earned run average (5.52), and tied for fourth best wins with 25 (Novotny from 2007-09).

Bricker also earned the Frontier Conference Softball Gold Glove award for the pitcher's position.  She collected 51 total chances with eight put-outs and 39 assists. 

Roanna Riggins was the DSU's recipient of the Frontier Conference Softball Champions of Character award.  Stay tuned to the dsuathletics.com website for more details when Frontier Conference makes their official announcement on their Champions of Character recipients next week.
 

	Hannah McFarland Frontier Conference First Team Outfielder Gold Glove Outfield
	Maycee Bricker Frontier Conference Second Team At-Large Gold Glove Pitcher