BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Hannah McFarland, a 2022 Bradford High School graduate, is the Dakota State University softball program’s record new career leader in stolen bases.
McFarland, a junior outfielder who broke the record by stealing three bases in her team’s 14-10 loss to Waldorf on March 18, currently has 57 stolen bases for her career — 15 as a freshman, 26 as a sophomore and a team-leading 16 this season.
The previous record of 53 stolen bases was held by Lori Olen (2004-07) and Carrington Entringer (2022-23). Entringer is a graduate assistant on this year’s team.
Through 23 games, McFarland also leads Dakota State in hits (26), doubles (9) and batting average (.366).
McFarland is second on the team with a .430 on-base percentage and third with a slugging percentage of .493..
The former BHS Tornado earned second-team North Star Athletic Association All-Conference honors her freshman season. McFarland played in all 49 games for the Madison, South Dakota, school, 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.
As a sophomore, McFarland earned first-team all-conference honors as well as receiving a Gold Glove Award for her perfect fielding percentage, 79 put-outs and three assists.
McFarland led Dakota State in 2024 in batting average (.387), on-base percentage (.497), slugging percentage (.478), walks (23), runs scored (35) and stolen bases (26). She also hit nine doubles, which was second on the team.
