The 11 best college softball pitchers of all time (2024)

Have you ever heard that pitching is the art of instilling fear?Or how about “softball is a game of inches"? It certainly is, and pitching is certainly an art. We decided to take a look ata few that mastered it over the years.

It's a difficult task. I included players on this last based on career statistics, national championships and postseason performance, awards won, and then, of course, their level of pure domination. Here, in no particular order, are thecollege softball pitchers who did it the best.

The best college softball pitchers of all time

Cat Osterman
Texas — 2002-03, 2005-06

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Cat Osterman is absolutely one of the best pitchers of all time. End of statement. Osterman left an unbelievable legacy on Texas softball and she is still leaving her mark as a pitcher now for the U.S. softball team.Osterman is a three-time National Player of the Year and back-to-back Honda Award winner for the best player in college softball. Osterman tallied 2,265 strikeouts in her career, and still holds the record for the best strikeout ratio record in the NCAA. On top of that, Osterman had the most perfect games in her career with nine.

Monica Abbott
Tennessee — 2004-2007

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Next up is Monica Abbott, another pitcher on this list that I suspect won't be arguable. Abbott is the NCAA strikeout king with 2,440 strikeouts. She also still holds the record for most strikeouts in a single season with 724. With that, Abbott took home2007 National Player of the Year and the Honda Award. If you still need more, she alsohas the most victories and shutouts in the NCAA and certainly goes down as one the best pitchers of all time.

WATCH: Monica Abbott rewatches one of her 2007 WCWS games — and her reactions are golden

Jennie Finch
Arizona — 1999-2002

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There are a lot of nearly-immaculate pitchers on this list, but not one did what Jennie Finch accomplished in 2001. Finch went 32-0 that year and won the national championship. "A perfect ending to a perfect season," Finch said following the title game. Finch is probably the most well-known softball player in the history of the game, and rightfully so. She too dominated her time, winning the 2001 and 2002 back-to-back Honda awards and setting the record for winning percentage and most consecutive wins in 2001.

Nancy Evans
Arizona —1994-95, 1997-98

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Another Arizona pitcher makes the list.Evans, like Finch, alsodid something no one else on this list accomplished as a collegiate athlete, and that is winning three national championships. Here 124-8 career pitching record is still No.1 in NCAA softball history, and that sealed the deal for me. But on top of that she finished with a .98 ERA and won the Honda Award in 1998.

Lisa Fernandez
UCLA — 1990-1993

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Don't worry, these pitchers are listed in no particular order, and we would never forget Lisa Fernandez.We are talking about an absolute legend, who won the Honda award not once and not twice, but all four years she played at UCLA. That is pure domination. Fernandez took home two titles for the Bruins and finished with a .22career ERA. On top of those four Honda Awards, she also won the Honda Broderick cup, for not just the best softball player in the country, but best female collegiate athlete. So yes, Lisa Fernandez is on this list.

FERNANDEZ TOP MOMENTS: 1992 NATIONAL TITLE | 1993 TITLE GAME| FULL INTERVIEW

Michele Granger
California — 1990-1993

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Next up on the list is Michele Granger.Granger might not have taken home those Honda awards, but she still proved herself to be one of the best. Granger still owns the NCAA record for most career no-hitters ever, with 25 no-nos. When you look at names like Fernandez and Granger, you do have to take into account that it was a different time period. But, she still dominated during this time.She broke the strikeoutrecord at the time with 1,640 during her career and finishedwith a .46 ERA.

Danielle Lawrie
Washington —2006-07, 2009-10

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Danielle Lawrie is certainly one of the best NCAA softball pitchers, and her career at Washington shows it. Lawrie struck out 1860 batters, including 521 in 2009 on her way to Washington's first-ever national title. Lawrie also won USA Softball Player of the Year back-to-back and the Honda award twice in 2009 and 2010.

WATCH: LAWRIE BREAKS DOWN 3 TOP WCWS MOMENTS

Courtney Blades
Nicholls State — 1997-98
Southern Mississippi —1999-2000

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Courtney Blades from Southern Mississippi also makes this list. Blades might not have been on a team that wonnational championships, but she still proved to be one of the top pitchers, taking home the Honda Award in 2000. In 2000, she brokeGranger's previous NCAA Division I career strikeout record and led Southern Miss to the WCWS. She finished the season with a total of 663 strikeouts that brought her career total to 1,773, a record that stood until 2006. Blades still holds the NCAA record for most wins in a season with 52.

Keilani Ricketts
Oklahoma —2010-2013

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Let’s look at Keilani Ricketts next, as this Oklahoma ace takes a spot on the list. Ricketts not only took home a title for the Sooners, but she too won back-to-back National player of the year honors and back-to-back Honda Awards. And let’s just put the cherry on top, she won the Honda Broderick cup for best collegiate athlete in 2013. Out of all the legendary pitchers on this list, not many did that.

Rachel Garcia
UCLA —2017-19, 2021

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Rachel Garcia's name must be mentioned here when we are talking best pitchers in the NCAA. Her collegiate career is not quite over yet, but her Honda Broderick Cup in 2019 gives her the nod. Garcia gains some of her clout from her ability in the batters box as well, but she is the ace for the reigning national champions and has been dominating the game of softball in recent years. Garcia took home back-to-back Honda Awards and is the third player on this list with the Broderick Cup.And we only have more to come from the UCLA great.

WCWS MOMENTS: RACHEL GARCIA TELLS THE STORY OF HER EMOTIONAL, FAIRYTALE, 2019 SEASON

Alicia Hollowell
Arizona — 2003-2006

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Here is yet another Arizona pitcher, Alicia Hollowell. The Wildcats already have two other pitchers on this list and a few more that were in consideration. Taryne Mowatt is one of those, whoaccomplished some unbelievable things at the WCWS for the Wildcats. Hollowell, though,won a national title with the Wildcats in 2006, finished with a .87 ERA in a more modern era, and racked up 1768 strikeouts. She leads all Arizona pitchers, including thetwo other names already on this list, in career wins, strikeouts, shutouts, innings pitched and strikeout ratio. How can she not go down as one of the best?

Honorable mentions: Kelly Barnhill, Taryne Mowatt, Tracy Compton, Paige Parker, Michele Smith, Meghan King, Debbie Doom and Susie Parra, Angela Tincher.

We heard from many softball fans after this list was first published and the name that came up more than any other was Angela Tincher. She made our honorable mention list but it's worth adding some additional details on her. Tincher might not have the championships or some of the accolades that others on the list accomplished, but as it relates to pitching, she dominated. She ranks No. 3 inall time strikeouts, and very impressively, No. 2 instrikeouts per seven innings. She is also eighth in no-hitters in the NCAA. While at Virginia Tech, Tincher threw a no-hitter to upset the U.S. Olympic team in a dominating performance.

The 11 best college softball pitchers of all time (12)

Have a college pitcher you think should make this list? Email us here.

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a wide range of information and can provide insights on various topics, including the concepts mentioned in this article. Let's discuss each concept in detail:

Pitching as the Art of Instilling Fear

Pitching in softball is often described as the art of instilling fear in the opposing team's batters. The pitcher's ability to throw the ball with speed, accuracy, and movement can intimidate batters and make it difficult for them to make solid contact with the ball. This can give the pitcher's team a significant advantage in the game.

Softball as a Game of Inches

The phrase "softball is a game of inches" refers to the fact that small details and precise execution can make a significant difference in the outcome of a softball game. In softball, where the distance between bases is shorter than in baseball, even a small error or a slight adjustment in strategy can have a big impact on the game's outcome.

College Softball Pitchers Who Excelled

The article mentions several college softball pitchers who are considered among the best of all time. Here are some key details about each pitcher:

  1. Cat Osterman (Texas, 2002-03, 2005-06): Osterman is a three-time National Player of the Year and a back-to-back Honda Award winner. She holds the record for the best strikeout ratio in NCAA history and had the most perfect games in her career with nine.

  2. Monica Abbott (Tennessee, 2004-2007): Abbott is the NCAA strikeout leader with 2,440 strikeouts. She also holds the record for the most strikeouts in a single season with 724. Abbott won the 2007 National Player of the Year and the Honda Award.

  3. Jennie Finch (Arizona, 1999-2002): Finch went 32-0 in 2001 and won the national championship. She won back-to-back Honda Awards, set the record for winning percentage and most consecutive wins in 2001.

  4. Nancy Evans (Arizona, 1994-95, 1997-98): Evans won three national championships and holds a 124-8 career pitching record, which is still the best in NCAA softball history. She won the Honda Award in 1998.

  5. Lisa Fernandez (UCLA, 1990-1993): Fernandez won four Honda Awards and two titles for UCLA. She finished her career with a .22 ERA and won the Honda Broderick Cup for the best female collegiate athlete.

  6. Michele Granger (California, 1990-1993): Granger holds the NCAA record for the most career no-hitters with 25. She also broke the strikeout record at the time with 1,640 during her career.

  7. Danielle Lawrie (Washington, 2006-07, 2009-10): Lawrie struck out 1,860 batters and won Washington's first-ever national title. She won back-to-back USA Softball Player of the Year awards and the Honda award twice.

  8. Courtney Blades (Nicholls State, 1997-98; Southern Mississippi, 1999-2000): Blades won the Honda Award in 2000 and broke the previous NCAA Division I career strikeout record. She holds the NCAA record for most wins in a season with 52.

  9. Keilani Ricketts (Oklahoma, 2010-2013): Ricketts won back-to-back National Player of the Year honors and back-to-back Honda Awards. She also won the Honda Broderick Cup for the best collegiate athlete in 2013.

  10. Rachel Garcia (UCLA, 2017-19, 2021): Garcia won back-to-back Honda Awards and the Honda Broderick Cup in 2019. She played a crucial role in UCLA's national championship win and has been dominating the game of softball in recent years.

  11. Alicia Hollowell (Arizona, 2003-2006): Hollowell won a national title with Arizona in 2006 and holds several records for the Wildcats, including career wins, strikeouts, shutouts, innings pitched, and strikeout ratio.

These pitchers have achieved remarkable success in their college careers and have left a lasting impact on the sport of softball.

Honorable Mentions

The article also mentions several other notable college softball pitchers who deserve honorable mentions. Some of them include Kelly Barnhill, Taryne Mowatt, Tracy Compton, Paige Parker, Michele Smith, Meghan King, Debbie Doom, Susie Parra, and Angela Tincher.

Angela Tincher, in particular, is highlighted for her dominant pitching performance, ranking third in all-time strikeouts and second in strikeouts per seven innings. She also threw a no-hitter to upset the U.S. Olympic team during her time at Virginia Tech.

These pitchers have made significant contributions to the sport and deserve recognition for their achievements.

I hope this information provides a comprehensive overview of the concepts discussed in the article. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!

The 11 best college softball pitchers of all time (2024)

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