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2021 Top 25 College Seniors

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(Photo by Shane Bevel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

We at Softball America are gearing up for the much-anticipated 2021 college softball season by rolling out a series of rankings that feature the best NCAA players in the game today.

Below, we tackled a ranking of the top 25 players who were listed as college seniors by their respective programs at the time this ranking was put together. Some of these players held onto their senior distinction based on their school's ability to grant them an extra year of NCAA eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several of the players on this list are true seniors.

Updated on: 2/2/2021
  1. 1
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    Rachel Garcia

    UCLA P
    Notes:

    2019 stats (missed 2020 season due to U.S. Olympic team duties): 2019: .343 BA, 9 2B, 11 HR, 57 RBI, 1.048 OPS / 29-1, 1.14 ERA, 202 IP, 286 SO
    Scouting Report: She's back. The two-time National Player of the Year has a chance to cement herself as one of the best players in college softball history this season. Whether it's in the circle or at the plate, she'll make UCLA even better in 2021.

  2. 2
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    Jessie Harper

    Arizona INF
    Notes:

    2020 stats: .395 BA, 30 H, 10 HR, 29 RBI, 1.318 OPS
    Scouting Report: The most powerful bat in Arizona's dynamic offense is back in 2021. Harper will once again have a chance to reach Lauren Chamberlain's home run record this season. Her production has a large impact on the Wildcats' national title hopes.

  3. 3
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    Kindra Hackbarth

    Arizona State OF
    Notes:

    2020 stats: .443 BA, 39 H, 32 R, 11 2B, 6 HR, 27 RBI, 1.295 OPS, 10 SB
    Scouting Report: Hackbarth truly makes the Arizona State lineup as great as it is. She provides clutch hits and a constant speed threat on the bases. The outfielder will have one last go in Tempe this season.

  4. 4
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    Gabbie Plain

    Washington P
    Notes:

    2020 stats: 10-2, 2.76 ERA, 66 IP, 94 SO
    Scouting Report: Washington's ace returns to the circle in hopes of a better start to 2021. Plain's numbers from 2020 aren't what we were used to, but she was still good. It's likely the Aussie comes back to full form this season.

  5. 5
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    Sis Bates

    Washington INF
    Notes:

    2020 stats: .529 BA, 27 H, 5 2B, 17 R, 1.241 OPS, 6 SB
    Scouting Report: Bates missed a good portion of the 2020 season due to injury. When she was on the field, she was as great as she normally is. The exceptional defender and Washington leadoff hitter will try to guide the Huskies back to a championship.

  6. 6
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    Dejah Mulipola

    Arizona C
    Notes:

    2019 stats (missed 2020 season due to U.S. Olympic team duties): .305 BA, 7 2B, 23 HR, 55 RBI, 1.223 OPS
    Scouting Report: It's probably not fair that Arizona gets to add back the best catcher in the sport in 2021. Mulipola makes the Wildcat lineup even better and is a great defender behind the plate.

  7. 7
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    Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza

    Arizona UTL
    Notes:

    2020 stats: .373 BA, 7 2B, 7 HR, 26 RBI, 1.263 OPS
    Scouting Report: Each year she's been with Arizona, Palomino-Cardoza has produced for the Wildcats. She's another important piece of the great senior class in Tucson.

  8. 8
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    Alysen Febrey

    Oklahoma State INF
    Notes:

    2020 stats: .382 BA, 5 2B, 11 HR, 32 RBI, 1.417 OPS
    Scouting Report: Febrey made one heck of an impact in her first season at Oklahoma State. She constantly hit the ball out of the park. Cowgirl fans are definitely happy to see her for another season.

  9. 9
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    Carrie Eberle

    Oklahoma State P
    Notes:

    2020 stats: 10-1, 0.46 ERA, 76 IP, 68 SO
    Scouting Report: Eberle was the best pitcher in the Big 12 last season. Her debut for Oklahoma State couldn't have gone better. Now, she'll need to repeat her numbers in 2021 for the Cowgirls to have a chance to win the Big 12 title.

  10. 10
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    Bubba Nickles

    UCLA UTL
    Notes:

    2019 stats (missed 2020 season due to U.S. Olympic team duties): .390 BA, 12 2B, 18 HR, 72 RBI, 1.172 OPS
    Scouting Report: Another Olympic team returnee, Nickles adds power, versatility and a veteran presence in the Bruin lineup. UCLA will also now have one of the most athletic outfields in the nation.

  11. 11
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    Jocelyn Alo

    Oklahoma UTL
    Notes:

    2020 stats: .427 BA, 5 2B, 8 HR, 21 RBI, 1.319 OPS
    Scouting Report: Alo was on pace for another terrific season from a power standpoint. With a large number of young players on Oklahoma's squad this year, she'll serve as a leader for the Sooners.

  12. 12
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    Kendyl Lindaman

    Florida C/INF
    Notes:

    2020 stats: .410 BA, 7 HR, 22 RBI, 1.256 OPS
    Scouting Report: Lindaman has had a spectacular career thus far. She'll bring more of the same to the Gators in the lineup and behind the plate this year. She was on pace last season for the power numbers she had while at Minnesota.

  13. 13
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    Haley Cruse

    Oregon OF
    Notes:

    2020 stats: .457 BA, 37 H, 4 2B, 30 R, 1.135 OPS, 15 SB
    Scouting Report: The Duck and TikTok star returns for her final season in Eugene. Cruse was one of the toughest outs last season and a big reason for Oregon's success in 2020. Her Pac-12 experience will be important for the Ducks this season.

  14. 14
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    Tristen Edwards

    Nebraska OF
    Notes:

    2020 stats: .434 BA, 28 R, 10 2B, 11 HR, 22 RBI, 1.482 OPS
    Scouting Report: Edwards might be the least known of the best power hitters in college softball. She's had 10-plus home runs over the past three seasons and had an incredible 1.000 slugging percentage last season.

  15. 15
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    Kate Gordon

    James Madison OF
    Notes:

    2020 stats: .557 BA, 34 H, 10 HR, 21 RBI, 1.807 OPS
    Scouting Report: Gordon put up one of the most incredible stat lines in the shortened 2020 season. She got hits more than she got out and her slugging percentage was over 1.000. JMU is glad to get her back for another run.

  16. 16
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    Amber Fiser

    Minnesota P
    Notes:

    2020 stats: 10-7, 2.17 ERA, 100 IP, 145 SO
    Scouting Report: It was always going to be hard for Fiser to repeat her fantastic 2019 season. In the shortened 2020 season, she led the Big Ten in strikeouts.

  17. 17
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    Mariah Mazon

    Oregon State P/UTL
    Notes:

    2020 stats: .377 BA, 5 2B, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 1.022 OPS / 10-6, 1.18 ERA, 113 IP, 130 SO
    Scouting Report: Mazon had been a good pitcher in the Pac-12 for a few years. Then, she had her best year in the circle in 2020. She also led the Beavers in batting average and slugging percentage last season.

  18. 18
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    Paige Rauch

    Villanova P/INF
    Notes:

    2020 stats: .405 BA, 34 H, 27 R, 7 2B, 12 HR, 28 RBI, 1.397 OPS / 12-4, 2.25 ERA, 90.1 IP, 97 SO
    Scouting Report: Villanova has one of the best two-way players in the nation. Rauch had some of the best power numbers in the NCAA last season and was really good in the circle for her team as well.

  19. 19
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    Erin Edmoundson

    Texas Tech P/OF
    Notes:

    2020 stats: .300 BA, 9 H, 2 2B, 1 3B / 10-4, 1.42 ERA, 78.2 IP, 93 SO
    Scouting Report: Edmoundson has gotten better every year she's been at Texas Tech. She took a huge leap in 2020 and was one of the best pitchers in the Big 12. She also tossed the program's third perfect game last year.

  20. 20
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    Fa Leilua

    Mississippi State UTL
    Notes:

    2020 stats: .384 BA, 33 H, 28 R, 8 2B, 9 HR, 28 RBI, 1.256 OPS
    Scouting Report: Mississippi State had one of the best lineups last season and Leilua was right in the middle of it. It felt like she was cranking home runs every other game in 2020.

  21. 21
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    Giselle "G" Juarez

    Oklahoma P
    Notes:

    2020 stats: 2-1, 3.15 ERA, 6.2 IP, 9 SO
    Scouting Report: Injury took Juarez out for most of the season in 2020, but she's healthy now and ready to go for this season. She's shown at two different schools that she can be one of the nation's top pitchers.

  22. 22
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    Bailey Hemphill

    Alabama UTL
    Notes:

    2020 stats: .280 BA, 14 H, 9 R, 2 HR, 10 RBI, .913 OPS
    Scouting Report: Hemphill will look to treat 2021 as a bounce-back year. She never found a groove at the plate last season, but has all the talent to return to her All-American form in 2021.

  23. 23
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    Samaria Diaz

    Oregon P
    Notes:

    2020 stats: 8-0, 1.00 ERA, 42 IP, 53 SO
    Scouting Report: Part of Oregon's strong pitching staff, Diaz decided to use the extra season she was granted for 2021. Used more in a reliever role last year, her numbers with the Ducks speak for themselves.

  24. 24
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    Meghan Beaubien

    Michigan P
    Notes:

    2020 stats: 7-5, 1.52 ERA, 73.2 IP, 90 SO
    Scouting Report: In three seasons, Beaubien has never had an ERA over two. She was Michigan's co-ace in the circle last year, and will probably occupy that role in 2021.

  25. 25
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    Allison Doocy

    Iowa P
    Notes:

    2020 stats: 7-2, 1.54 ERA, 68.1 IP, 102 SO
    Scouting Report: Even in a shortened season, Doocy was solid in the circle again. She posted six double-digit strikeout performances in 2020, including a career-high 15 against Hawaii.

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