University of South Dakota Athletics

Dawn Knudsen Dahm, a native of Blencoe, IA, ranks as perhaps the greatest pitcher in South Dakota softball history. A four-year performer, her name is firmly entered in South Dakota's record book. A 5'4 right-hander, she led the Coyotes to two state AIAW championships and won a record 40 games during her career. That total represented 61 percent of USD's wins (66-47) from 1978-81. Knudsen's other standards that remain untouched are: wins in a season (13), career innings pitched (476), career batters faced (2,010), career strikeouts (325), career complete games (63), lowest career earned run average (1.18), lowest season ERA (0.84), fewest walks per inning career (1.72), and best career winning percentage (.588, 40-28).