Cougar Softball Adds 18 to 2025 Roster (2024)

By: Madie Brink and Erin Bly

SIOUX FALLS, S.D.- The University of Sioux Falls Women's Softball team along with head coach Erin Bly are pleased to announce the 18new additions to their 2024-25 roster.

"We could not be more excited about our 2024 recruiting class," stated Bly. "This is a strong group of young ladies who are exceptional students and athletes that will redefine the culture we are building within the women's softball program and be fantastic representations of the USF campus community. Along with our battle-tested returners, we cannot wait to see what this team can do!"

Jaeleigh Darnell, Utility – Hutchinson Community College

Jaeleigh joins the Coo after a historical career at Hutchinson Community College. During her sophom*ore year as a Blue Dragon, Darnell helped lead her team to the NJCAA Division One National Tournament and earned NJCAA First Team All-American honors as well as NFCA and NJCAA First Team All-Region and All-Conference as she compiled a .492 batting average with 14 homeruns, 71 RBIs, and 68 runs. During her freshmen year, Darnell hit .394 with 32 RBIs and 32 runs. Prior to her collegiate career, Jaeleigh was a standout high school player earning all-conference and all-state honors for the Auburn Bulldogs of Auburn, Nebraska.

Kyra Knudtson, First Base – Northern State University

Kyra comes to USF after completing two very successful seasons with Northern State University. In 2024, Knudston hit .338 with 52 hits, 13 doubles, and 28 RBIs, while posting a .933 fielding percentage in the field. In 2023, Knudston led the team in average (.336), hits (48), and doubles (12) while also notching three homeruns and 14 RBIs. Prior to her stint at Northern, Kyra was a standout high school player for Lincoln in Sioux Falls, SD. Knudtson hit over .500 in both her junior and senior campaigns, combining for 59 total RBI. She is a 3-time all-state selection and 2-time state tournament all-tournament team member. The Patriots won the South Dakota State Championship in 2019 and 2021 and finished as the runner-up in 2018 and 2020.

Lauryn Foudree, Pitcher – Des Moines Area Community College

Lauryn comes to the Coo after competing her freshmen and sophom*ore year for perennial National Junior College Tournament contenders, the DMAAC Bears. During her time at DMAAC out of Des Moines, Iowa, Foudree notched a career 3.42 ERA while averaging 8.60 strikeouts per seven innings. Foudree helped lead the Bears to a National Tournament appearance in both her years with the program. Prior to her time with DMAAC, Foudree competed for Iowa powerhouse Valley High School out of West Des Moines, Iowa. Foudree was named Iowa's top softball pitchers in 2022.

Savanna Isaacson, Shortstop – Highland High School

Savanna joins the softball team after competing as a four-year starter for Highland High School in Mesa, Arizona. Isaacson competed for the largest division in Arizona and earned 6A First Team All-State in 2024 and Second-Team All-State in 2022. Isaacson also garnered First-Team All-Region honors in 2021, 2022, and 2024, while earning Second Team All-Region in 2022. In addition to her success on the field, Isaacson also earned First Team All-Academic honors all four years in high school.

Harper Hanco*ck, Catcher – Cowley Community College

Harper comes to the Coo after spending her freshmen year with the Cowley Tigers. During her community college career, Hanco*ck notched offensive numbers that include a .346 batting average with a .461 on-base percentage and 8 stolen bases. Defensively, Hanco*ck posted a .986 fielding percentage. Prior to her time at Cowley, Hanco*ck competed for Wahoo High School in Nebraska. During her High School career, Hanco*ck was the top hitting catcher in the state with a .565 batting average earning her All-State, All-District, and All-Conference honors as well as All-Academic State.

Olivia Huckfelt, Third Base – Spencer High School

Olivia is a duel-sport athlete that comes to USF after a stellar career in both softball and women's wrestling. During her time at Spencer High School in Spencer, Iowa, Huckfelt had a historic career having earned First Team All-State, All-District, and All-Conference her freshmen through senior year in high school. She also was a four-time Iowa 235 State Champion in wresting posting a career wrestling record of 121-1 with 121 pins.

Madelyn Bode, Outfield – Mankato West High School

Madelyn joins USF after recently finishing her prep career for Mankato West out of Mankato, Minnesota. Bode had a standout senior season for the Scarlets and finished her 2024 season with a .412 batting average, .529 on-base percentage, and four home runs with 26 RBIs and 16 runs scored. After notching career numbers for Mankato West, Bode earned All Big-Nine Conference and All-Section honors and was a First Team All-State selection. She also earned All-State Academic honors.

Alexis Alexander, Second Base – Campbell County High School

Alexis joins the Coo after a decorated high school career at Campbell County High School out of Gillette, Wyoming. During her high school tenure, Alexander led her team to a state championship in 2021 and two conference championships in 2022 and 2024. During her time at Campbell, Alexander garnered All-State honors in 2021 and notched All-Conference honors in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Ava Mejia, Pitcher – Glen Oaks Community College

Ava comes to USF after spending her first year at Glen Oaks Community College out of Centreville, Michigan. During her time as a Viking, Mejia notched 9 wins for her team while stating a 2.56 ERA, earning her First Team All-Conference honors and All Academic MCCAA honors. A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Mejia competed for Homestead High School prior to her collegiate career. During her high school campaign, Mejia ranked fifth in the state of Indiana for strikeouts in Class 4A and had a 1.867 ERA her senior season.

Morgan Linstad, Catcher – Concordia Moorhead

A Brookings, South Dakota native, Morgan joins USF softball after spending one year with Concordia Moorhead. Prior to her collegiate career, Linstad competed for Brookings High School where she had a decorated career garnering All-State honors in 2023. Linstad also helped lead Brookings High School to a second-place finish in the South Dakota State softball championship.

Karine Morrison, Outfield - El Paso Community College

Karine comes to the USF softball team after competing at El Paso Community College her freshmen year. During her time at El Paso, Morrison hit .379 with 11 doubles and 38 RBIs. Prior to her community college career, Morrison competed for Colleyville Heritage High School in Colleyville, Texas. During her time at Collyeville, Morrison hit .329 her senior year and helped lead her team to a 5A third place state finish while also earning 5A Academic All-State.

Gracie Johnson, Pitcher – Burnsville High School

Gracie comes to the University of Sioux Falls after completing her high school career for the Burnsville Blaze out of Burnsville, Minnesota. Pitching nearly every inning for Burnsville, Johnson was a four-year starter and earned All-Section 3AAAA in 2022 and All-Conference in 2024. In addition to her success on the field, Johnson also had success in the classroom earning the All-State Academic Award in 2024.

McKayla Fackler, Utility – Sahuarita High School

McKayla joins the USF softball squad after competing for Sahuarita High School out of Sahuarita, Arizona. During her high school career, Fackler helped lead her team to four regional championships while also garnering First Team All-Region honors in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. In 2021, Fackler was named to the All-Sports Tucson Freshmen Softball Team.

Bri Lawver, Outfield – Central Community College

Bri comes to the Coo after competing for Grand Island in Nebraska during her high school career and Central Community College during her freshmen and sophom*ore collegiate campaign. During her time as a Raider, Lawver earned First Team All-Region both years and being named Region 9 Freshman of the year in 2023. Lawver notched a .381 batting average her sophom*ore year with 35 RBIs, 48 runs, and 10 stolen bases.

Addie Heule, Outfield – Central Community College

Along with Lawver, Addie hails from Central Community college after finishing her community college campaign. During her time with the Raiders, Heule was named the Region 9 Defensive Player of the Year while also garnering First Team All-Region honors. A native of Columbus High School out of Columbus, Nebraska, Heule also had a decorated academic career and was named Academic Student athlete of the year for her high school.

Hannah Soderbeck, Catcher – Eastview High School

Hannah joins the USF softball team after completing her High School career for Eastview High School out of Lakeville, Minnesota. A two-time team captain, Soderbeck was a four-year letter winner and earned SSC All-Conference honors in both her 2023 and 2024 campaign. Off the field, Soderbeck was a stellar student earning the prestigious Step Scholar award in 2024.

Hailee Bruns – Second Base – Okanogan High School

Hailee comes to the Coo after competing with the Okanogan Bulldogs out of Okanogan, Washington for four years. During her successful high school campaign, Bruns was a three-time All-League honoree. She was named her high school team captain in 2023 and helped lead her high school team to a 2022 WIAA 2B State Tournament bid and a 2023 WIAA 2B State Tournament fourth-place finish.

Hanna Raethz – Catcher – West Central High School