BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Five members of the Carleton College softball team were recognized as the conference coaches handed out their end-of-season honors. Juniors Rachel Block and Megan Smith along with sophomore Jade Thach earned spots on the All-MIAC First Team, while sophomore Samantha Rodriguez took home All-MIAC Honorable Mention, and first-year Emily Vogel was tabbed to the All-Playoff Team.
 
The Knights (24-17) tied the program record for victories in a season as they closed the regular season by winning 14 of their last 16 games—including 12 of 14 conference contests—to earn a berth in the MIAC Playoffs.
 
Block, who received All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2025, paced the Knights with an 11-7 record—the fifth-highest win total in program history—and a 3.07 ERA in 26 appearances (11 starts) spanning 107.1 innings. She was eighth in the league with a 2.56 ERA in conference games while ranking fifth with eight victories in MIAC play. Block closed the regular season with a flourish, going 9-1 with a save over her last 11 outings while sporting a 2.15 ERA (16 ER in 52.0 IP).
 
Smith took home All-Conference recognition for the third consecutive season as she earned honorable mention in 2024 before being tabbed for the All-MIAC First team in both 2025 and 2026. She batted. 338 overall while starting all 41 games in centerfield. Smith had 16 multi-hit games and collected 10 doubles, three triples, and 28 runs scored while tying for the team lead with 14 stolen bases. She hit .325 in MIAC play.
 
Thach collected All-Conference status for the first time as she hit .318 with 10 doubles, two triples, and four home runs for a team-high 16 extra-base hits leading to a .555 slugging percentage. Her four homers tied for the team lead and helped Thach amass a team-best 32 RBI. She tore through MIAC pitching to the tune of a .383 batting average, .465 on-base percentage and .683 slugging percentage thanks to 11 extra-base hits in 21 contests. Thach spent the majority of the season at second base but also saw time at shortstop.
 
Rodriguez hit .331 overall but heated up in conference play with a team-best .390 average in MIAC games. After a slow start to the year, she finished the regular season with a 16-game hitting streak during which she hit at a .492 clip (31-for-63). Her 29 runs scored on the year ranked second on the squad.
 
Vogel served as the Knights' primary shortstop during her rookie campaign, batting .283 with 12 doubles, two home runs, and 19 RBI. After acclimating to the collegiate game, she hit. 364 in conference play with 10 doubles. Vogel had a flawless postseason, going 2-or-2 with a walk as the Knights returned to the MIAC Playoffs for the first time since 2018.