BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Hannah McFarland, a 2022 Bradford High School graduate, is leading the Dakota State University softball team in multiple categories, including her batting average of .386 and her slugging percentage of .491.
The sophomore outfielder, through March 22, leads the team in hits (22), doubles (6), runs scored (16), walks (15) and stolen bases (10). Her on-base percentage of .521 is second best.
Two of McFarland’s notable performances in March occurred in a pair of March 15 games against Mayville State. In a 12-6 loss, she went 2 for 3 with two doubles, an RBI and three runs scored, while in an 11-10 win, she was 3 for 4 with a double, an RBI and four runs scored.
McFarland scored a crucial run in the 11-10 win over Mayville State. She led off the fourth inning with a walk and stole second before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt. She then scored on a steal of home to put Dakota State up 6-5.
The game went into extra innings with the score tied at 6-6.
In one of her more recent games, McFarland went 2 for 4 with an RBI in a 9-4 loss to Dickinson State on March 22.
McFarland is coming off a season in which she earned North Star Athletic Association All-Conference honors. She played in all 49 of her team’s games, batting .338, which ranked her sixth on her team. She hit two triples and eight doubles, driving in 25 runs and scoring the second-most runs on the team with 45. Her on-base percentage of .418 was fourth best on the team.
