List of NCAA Division I softball career strikeout leaders

There are currently 99 pitchers in the 1,000 Strikeout Club:

StrikeoutsPitcherSchool(s)Years2,440Monica AbbottTennessee Lady Vols2004–20072,265Cat OstermanTexas Longhorns2002–20062,149Angela TincherVirginia Tech Hokies2005–20081,860Danielle LawrieWashington Huskies2006–20101,773Courtney BladesNicholls State Colonels & Southern Miss Golden Eagles1997–20001,768Alicia HollowellArizona Wildcats2003–20061,670Katie BurkhartArizona State Sun Devils2005–20081,662Sara PlourdeUMass Minutewomen2009–20121,640Michele GrangerCalifornia Golden Bears1989–19931,632Morgan MellohFresno State Bulldogs & Indiana Hoosiers2008–20111,605Keilani RickettsOklahoma Sooners2010–20131,473Whitney CanionBaylor Bears2009–20141,441Anjelica SeldenUCLA Bruins2005–20081,428Blaire LunaTexas Longhorns2010–20131,415Olivia GalatiHofstra Pride2010–20131,398Jessica SallingerGeorgia Tech Yellow Jackets2002–20051,390Jen MineauFordham Rams2009–20121,376Nicole MyersFAU Owls1999–20021,370Sarah PaulyCorpus Christi Islanders2003–20051,370Britni SneedLSU Tigers1999–20021,343Danielle HendersonUMass Minutewomen1996–19991,338Morgan ChildersSouth Carolina Upstate Spartans2008–20111,321Jamie SouthernFresno State Bulldogs2001–20051,309Brooke MitchellULL Ragin’ Cajuns2002–20051,305Ashlyn WilliamsTroy Trojans2008–20111,302Georgina CorrickUSF Bulls2018-20221,290Toni PaisleyEast Carolina Pirates2007–20111,280Sarah DawsonULM Warhawks1994–19971,270Randi RuppTexas State Bobcats2015–20181,267Missy PennaStanford Cardinal2006–20091,267Taryne MowattArizona Wildcats2005–20081,258Kylie ReynoldsKent State Golden Flashes2007–20101,234Shawn AndayaTexas A&M Aggies1984–19871,226Amanda RenfroTexas Tech Red Raiders1998–20011,223Nicole NewmanDrake Bulldogs2015–20191,222Dallas EscobedoArizona State Sun Devils2011–20141,220Jordan TaylorMichigan Wolverines2008–20111,219Kelsi DunneAlabama Crimson Tide2008–20111,218Brandice BalschmiterUMass Minutewomen2006–20091,214Sara GroenewegenMinnesota Golden Gophers2014–20171,208Kelly BarnhillFlorida Gators2016–20191,205Crystal CoxNorth Carolina Tar Heels2003–20061,205Jennie RitterMichigan Wolverines2003–20061,204Miranda KramerFort Wayne Mastodons & Western Kentucky Hilltoppers2012–20151,203Jocelyn ForestCalifornia Golden Bears1999–20021,201Megan BetsaMichigan Wolverines2014–20171,200Lisa IshikawaNorthwestern Wildcats1984–19871,194Savannah Jo DorseyOhio Bobcats2013–20171,184Sara MoultonMinnesota Golden Gophers2011–20141,174Chelsea ThomasMissouri Tigers2009–20131,163Montana FoutsAlabama Crimson Tide2019–20231,163Trinity JohnsonCal State Fullerton Titans & South Carolina Gamecocks1994–19971,156Andrea KirchbergWisconsin Badgers2000–20031,156Mellissa SantosFairfield Stags2000–20031,154Kristin SchmidtNotre Dame Fighting Irish & LSU Tigers2001–20041,154Dana SorensenStanford Cardinal2000–20041,151Lauren Bay RegulaOklahoma State Cowgirls2000–20031,142Eileen CanneyNorthwestern Wildcats2004–20071,130Lauren DelaneyNorthwestern Wildcats2007–20101,124Jolene HendersonCalifornia Golden Bears2010–20131,122Piper MartenMinnesota Golden Gophers2001–20041,120,Keely RochardVirginia Tech Hokies2018–20221,118Whitney KiihnlLipscomb Bisons2009–20121,116Stacey NelsonFlorida Gators2006–20091,115Jordan DixonMarshall Thundering Herd2014–20171,113Stephanie VanBrakleAlabama Crimson Tide2002–20061,111Samantha IuliUIC Flames1997–20001,103Sara NevinsUSF Bulls2011–20141,101Melanie MitchellVirginia Cavaliers2010–20131,095Keira GoerlUCLA Bruins2001–20041,091Abbie SimsNC State Wolfpack2004–20071,090Megan MatthewsSouth Carolina Gamecocks1999–20021,089Amy UnterbrinkIndiana Hoosiers1983–19861,086Tara OltmanCreighton Bluejays2007–20101,083Brittany WeilIowa Hawkeyes2006–20091,081Cheridan HawkinsOregon Ducks2013–20161,080Lori SpingolaNorth Carolina Tar Heels2011–20141,079Aimee CregerTulsa Golden Hurricane2011–20141,078Anna ThompsonAuburn Tigers2007–20101,077Laura WinterNotre Dame Fighting Irish2011–20141,071Kristina ThorsonCalifornia Golden Bears2003–20061,070Michelle GreenGeorgia Bulldogs2002–20051,063Alexis OsorioAlabama Crimson Tide2015–20181,059Amanda MacenkoCleveland State Vikings2007–20101,056Emily WeimanNC State Wolfpack2012–20151,050Kelsie ArmstrongCentral Arkansas Bears2010–20131,045Shelley LairdAlabama Crimson Tide1999–20021,041Jenna CairaSyracuse Orange2009–20121,037Kelly ShipmanMaryland Terrapins1996–19991,036Darcy WoodIndiana State Sycamores2005–20091,028Jennie FinchArizona Wildcats1999–20021,023Courtney CoppersmithUMBC Retrievers2019-20231,021Bonnie BynumTennessee Tech Golden Eagles2004–20071,021Jessica SimpsonMiami Redhawks2009–20121,019Nicole NeuerburgTexas State Bobcats2001–20041,014Courtnay FosterNorthwestern Wildcats2003–20061,013Leanna JohnsonTroy Trojans2019–20231,008Alex StorakoMichigan Wolverines & Oklahoma Sooners2019-20231,005Sarah HamiltonFSU Seminoles2008–20111,005Ellen RenfroeTennessee Lady Vols2011–2014

Progression Shawn Andaya broke the original strikeout record by Amy Unterbrink during her 1987 campaign. Michele Granger struck out her 1,235th batter on February 22, 1993, shutting out the Northwestern Wildcats 8–0. Courtney Blades struck out her 1,641st batter on May 6, 2000, defeating the USF Bulls in relief.

Cat Osterman surpassed Courtney Blades' career strikeout total on 25 February 2006, striking out Brittany Bolinger of the UNLV Lady Rebels. Monica Abbott went on to surpass Osterman's total on 6 May 2007, striking out Charlotte Morgan of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Angela Tincher became just the third pitcher to reach the 2,000 strikeout plateau on April 30, 2008, striking out Sissy Jimenez of the East Carolina Pirates.

Strikeout Ratio In addition, there are currently 26 pitchers in the 1,000 Strikeouts Club that averaged double-digit strikeouts for their career from a list of 33 NCAA career records:

No. 1 Cat Osterman (7IP = 14.3Ks); No. 2 Angela Tincher (7IP = 13.4Ks); No. 3 Sara Plourde (7IP = 12.0Ks); No. 4 Monica Abbott (7IP = 11.7Ks); No. 6 Sarah Pauly (7IP = 11.5Ks); No. 7 Alicia Hollowell (7IP = 11.0Ks); No. 8 Danielle Lawrie (7IP = 10.9Ks); No. 9 Blaire Luna (7IP = 10.9Ks); No. 10 Miranda Kramer (7IP = 10.9Ks); No. 11 Nicole Newman (7IP = 10.8Ks); No. 12 Megan Betsa (7IP = 10.7Ks); No. 13 Katie Burkhart (7IP = 10.7Ks); No. 15 Sara Groenewegen (7IP = 10.6Ks); No. 16 Anna Thompson (7IP = 10.5Ks); No. 17 Kelly Barnhill (7IP = 10.5Ks); No. 18 Keilani Ricketts (7IP = 10.4Ks); No. 20 Kylie Reynolds (7IP = 10.2Ks); No. 21 Taryne Mowatt (7IP = 10.1Ks); No. 22 Jennie Ritter (7IP = 10.1Ks); No. 23 Brooke Mitchell (7IP = 10.0Ks); No. 25 Morgan Childers (7IP = 10.0Ks); No. 27 Jordan Taylor (7IP = 10.0Ks); No. 29 Sarah Hamilton (7IP = 10.0Ks); No. 31 Jen Mineau (7IP = 10.0Ks); No. 32 Anjelica Selden (7IP = 10.0Ks); No. 33 Aimee Creger (7IP = 10.0Ks).

Records & Milestones Eileen Canney tied the NCAA and Junior Class records for single game strikeouts with 28 in 2006. Angela Tincher struck out the Sophomore Class record of 26 and NCAA top-10 record with 19 in 7-innings on five different occasions. Michele Granger struck out the Senior Class record 26 strikeouts and set the NCAA record for a 7-inning game with 21 in 1993. Nicole Myers struck out 25 in 2001; Danielle Lawrie and Cat Osterman each fanned 24 and 20 (7-innings), with Osterman tallying 24 twice. Darcy Wood, Katie Burkhart (who did it twice), Lauren Bay Regula and Anjelica Selden each struck out 23. Jamie Southern, Monica Abbott, Sara Plourde, Jen Mineau, Brooke Mitchell, Savannah Jo Dorsey and Kristina Thorson each nabbed 22 strikeout games. Alexis Osorio recorded 21 strikeouts to tie the NCAA single regulation game record. Alicia Hollowell, Abbott and Plourde also each struck out 20 in 7-innings, Hollowell and Plourde tying for the Sophomore Class record and Abbott setting the Freshman Class record for a regulation game. Sarah Pauly, Keilani Ricketts and Miranda Kramer struck out 19 in 7-innings. Finally, Lisa Ishikawa, Kelsie Armstrong, Kelly Barnhill, Courtney Blades, Burkhart, Jenna Caira, Morgan Childers, Courtnay Foster, Danielle Henderson (did it three times), Trinity Johnson, Taryne Mowatt, Nicole Newman, Mellissa Santos, Anna Thompson, Amy Unterbrink and Stephanie VanBrakle all whiffed 18 in 7-innings. Note: these totals represent the top-10 single game totals in a game of any length for the club up to the 7-inning game records, as well as only each pitchers' personal career highlights within that top-10 list.

Monica Abbott set the NCAA season and Senior Class records with 724 strikeouts in 2007; she also set the Sophomore and Freshman Class records with 603 and 582 respectively. Sara Plourde struck out the least in a non-injury season for the list with just 67 in 2009. Angela Tincher set the Junior Class record with 617 in 2007. Cat Osterman set the single season strikeout ratio at 15.4 in 2006, she struck out 630 that season. She also owns the Junior (15.2) and Sophomore (14.1) ratio marks in addition. Tincher (679 in 2008), Courtney Blades (663 in 2000), Osterman in 2006, (593 & 554 in 2005 & 2002) and Plourde (556 in 2010) all rank top-10 for season strikeouts in the NCAA. Abbott (14.1 in 2007), Danielle Henderson (13.9 with 465 strikeouts in 1999), Tincher (13.8, 13.8 & 13.7 in 2008, 2007 and 2006 with 504) all rank top-10 for strikeout ratio in an NCAA season; Osterman owns the career ratio of 14.3, while Amanda Macenko has the lowest ratio for the list at 6.6 for her career. Along with Blades in 2000, Osterman in 2002–2006, Abbott in 2004 & 2007, Tincher in 2008 and Plourde in 2010, Lisa Ishikawa (469 in 1984), Amy Unterbrink (370 in 1986), Shawn Andaya (326 in 1987), Michele Granger (327, 463, 329 & 484 in 1990–1993), Trinity Johnson (367 & 399 in 1995 & 1997), Henderson (430 in 1998), Blades (497 in 1999), Amanda Renfroe (421 in 2001), Danielle Lawrie (521 in 2009), Plourde (498 & 541 in 2011–2012), Blaire Luna (422 in 2013), Aimee Creger (354 in 2014), Miranda Kramer (439 in 2015), Savannah Jo Dorsey and Sara Groenewegen (both 336 in 2016), Megan Betsa (412 in 2017), Nicole Newman (423 in 2019) all led the NCAA for strikeouts those years. Granger (strikeout ratios 8.2 & 10.4 in 1990–1991), Johnson (strikeout ratio 11.5 in 1997), Henderson (strikeout ratio 11.8 in 1998 and ratio in 1999), Blades (strikeout ratio 11.6 in 2000), Nicole Myers (strikeout ratio 10.9 in 2001 with 403 strikeouts), Osterman (strikeout ratio 12.7 in 2002 and ratios in 2003–2006), Alicia Hollowell (strikeout ratio 12.1 in 2004 with 508 strikeouts), Abbott (ratio in 2007), Tincher (ratio in 2008), Plourde (strikeout ratios 12.5 & 12.2 in 2010 & 2012), Luna (strikeout ratio 11.7 in 2013), Groenewegen (strikeout ratio 11.5 in 2014), Kramer (strikeout ratio 12.6 in 2015), Kelly Barnhill (strikeout ratio 13.0 in 2017) and Newman (strikeout ratio 13.3 in 2019) all led in strikeout ratio for those years in the NCAA.