2023 Preseason College Top 100

Softball America's 2023 Preseason College Top 100 will provide you with what you need to know about the college game's biggest stars.
See SA's Preseason College Top 100 below.
- 1Last: 3
Tiare Jennings
Oklahoma INFNotes:Year: Jr.
2022 stats: .401 BA, 73 H, 83 R, 29 HR, 87 RBI
Notes: Jennings is on track to be on Okahoma softball's Mount Rushmore, and maybe the best offensive player in Sooner history if she continues to post her video game–like numbers. She's a two-time national champion, two-time First-Team All-American, 2021 National Freshman of the Year and a favorite to be named our Player of the Year at the conclusion of the 2023 season. In 2022, Jennings mashed 29 home runs and posted a team-best 87 RBIs, along with a stellar .401 batting average. She also gained valuable experience playing for Team USA over the summer. - 2Last: 14
Baylee Klingler
Washington INFNotes:Year: Fifth Year
2022 stats: .434 BA, 75 H, 46 R, 24 HR, 71 RBI
Notes: Klingler proved to not only be the Pac-12's best player in 2022, but also one of the best players nationally after being named a First-Team All-American and a top three finalist for USA Softball’s National Collegiate Player of the Year award. In 2022, she boasted a .434 batting average, 75 hits and a conference-best 71 RBIs and 1.448 OPS. Klingler's game looks to be enhanced after having competed with Team USA over the summer. - 3Last: 24
Jordy Bahl
Oklahoma PNotes:Year: So.
2022 stats: 1.09 ERA, 22-1, 141.1 IP, 205 SO, .145 OBA
Notes: Bahl had a near-perfect freshman season. She was named the National Freshman of the Year, Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Year, First-Team All-American and won a national championship. If Bahl can repeat her numbers from a season ago, she'll put Oklahoma in a great position to three-peat as national champions. She only gave up 22 runs over 141.1 innings, pushing her to a 1.09 earned run average. She finished the season with a 22-1 record and 205 strikeouts. - 4Last: 69
Kelly Maxwell
Oklahoma State PNotes:Year: R-Sr.
2022 stats: 1.22 ERA, 21-5, 189.2 IP, .313 SO, .144 OBA
Notes: Arguably the best southpaw in the game, Maxwell will look to take the Cowgirls one step further than a year ago and into the 2023 WCWS championship series. Maxwell not only led Oklahoma State to the national semifinals because of her stellar postseason run, but she also silenced the opposition throughout most of the 2022 season. She collected a 21-5 record with a 1.22 earned run average. The redshirt senior proved she was one of the best strikeout pitchers in the game with 313 strikeouts over 189.2 innings pitched. Maxwell earned a multitude of honors at the conclusion of the season, which included being named a First-Team All-American, the Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Year and a member of the WCWS All-Tournament Team. Let's see if she adds something new to her repertoire this spring, as she spent part of the summer competing with Team USA. - 5Last: 9
Jayda Coleman
Oklahoma OFNotes:Year: Jr.
2022 stats: .424 BA, 61 H, 70 R, 8 HR, 40 RBI
Notes: Coleman proved to be arguably the best leadoff hitter in the country last season, as she hit for a .424 average with a .584 on-base percentage. Despite being a leadoff hitter, she still demonstrates good power numbers, as she hit eight home runs and tallied 18 extra-base hits as well in 2022. Those numbers, along with her 40 RBIs, helped her be named an All-American last spring for the second straight year. - 6Last: 8
Megan Faraimo
UCLA P/1BNotes:Year: R-Sr.
2022 stats: 1.98, 24-5, 1.98 IP, 292 SO, .181 OBA
Notes: In her first season as UCLA's ace, Faraimo was dominant. She was named the 2022 Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year, an All-American and was our Pitcher of the Month last March. Faraimo struck out almost 100 more batters (292) than innings pitched on the season (198). On top of her strikeouts, she accumulated a 24-5 record with a 1.98 earned run average. Faraimo will look to take her performance to the next level after having competed with Team USA last summer. - 7Last: 48
Grace Lyons
Oklahoma INFNotes:Year: R-Sr.
2022 stats: .401 BA, 71 H, 67 R, 23 HR, 73 RBI
Notes: Lyons has showcased herself as one of the best shortstops in the country since her freshman year in 2019, but the icing on the cake has been her offensive development since then. She hit for a career-best .401 batting average with 23 long balls and 70 RBIs in 2022. Lyons finished the year with a 1.343 OPS and .864 slugging percentage. This propelled her to be named an All-American last season. She learned from the best over the summer, as she represented the red, white and blue on Team USA. - 8Last: 20
Kathryn Sandercock
Florida State PNotes:Year: R-Sr.
2022 stats: 1.44 ERA, 30-3, 194.1 IP, 159 SO
Notes: Despite the bitter taste in the Seminoles' mouths after losing in their own regional in 2022, it's very promising to have Sandercock back in the circle to make a statement in 2023. The redshirt senior went 30-3 with a 1.44 earned run average last spring. She fanned 159 batters in her 194.1 innings of work. Her performance allowed her to be named an All-American in 2022. Sandercock competed with Team USA over the summer. - 9Last: 2
Montana Fouts
Alabama PNotes:Year: Gr.
2022 stats: 2.10, 24-8, 190 IP, 275 SO, .193 OBA
Notes: The Team USA member and one of the prominent faces of college softball will have one last shot at a national championship in 2023. Despite 2022 being a down year for Fouts, she's still one of the most-feared pitchers in the country. The right-handed hurler totaled 275 strikeouts over 190 innings of work last spring, while holding her opposition to a .193 batting average. Those numbers were still good enough for Fouts to be named an All-SEC First-Team honoree. - 10
Cydney Sanders
Oklahoma INFNotes:Year: So.
2022 stats: .425 BA, .566 OBP, 62 H, 53 R, 21 HR, 63 RBI
Notes: Sanders made a big splash last year as a freshman at Arizona State. She was named a First-Team All-American, the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and was a top three finalist for USA Softball’s National Freshman of the Year award. That was all possible because of her dynamic bat that posted a .425 average on 62 hits and 63 RBIs. Her 21 home runs lifted her slugging percentage to .952. Now, Sanders will wear the crimson and cream for the two-time defending national champion Sooners. - 11Last: 19
Valerie Cagle
Clemson P/UTLNotes:Year: Jr.
2022 stats: .308 BA, 57 H, 34 R, 13 HR, 44 RBI // 1.92 ERA, 160.2 IP, 176 SO, .210 OBA
Notes: The best two-way player in the country led Clemson to its first super regional appearance a season ago, and there's no doubt she can top that by propelling the Tigers to their first Women's College World Series appearance at some point over the next two seasons. In the circle, she had a 1.92 earned run average with 176 strikeouts over 160.2 innings pitched. With the bat, she hit 13 home runs and drove in 44 runs. She carried a .308 batting average on 57 hits with a .317 on-base percentage. - 12
Allie Skaggs
Arizona UTLNotes:Year: Jr.
2022 stats: .367 BA, 65 H, 48 R, 24 HR, 58 RBI
Notes: Although Arizona may have lost a couple key pieces in its lineup from a year ago, Skaggs is a player coaches around the country would love to build their offenses around. Skaggs will return to Tucson for her junior campaign as one of the elite home run hitters in the country. In 2022, Skaggs hit 24 home runs, which was fifth-most in the NCAA. Skaggs' power did not take her away from being consistent, as she carried a .367 batting average and .462 on-base percentage. She finished the year with 58 RBIs, a 1.259 OPS and a .797 slugging percentage in 2022. - 13
Skylar Wallace
Florida INFNotes:Year: R-Jr.
2022 stats: .386 BA, 71 H, 79 R, 8 HR, 53 RBI, 52 SB
Notes: In 2022, Wallace showed why she was one of the top recruits in her high school class. She was dynamite on the basepaths, stealing a program-best 52 bases on 56 attempts for the Gators. Wallace was able to swipe as many bags as she did because of her .542 on-base percentage. She accumulated her on-base percentage because of 71 hits, a .542 batting average, 15 walks and 16 hit by pitches. Eight of Wallace's 25 extra-base hits last season were home runs. - 14Last: 40
Danielle Williams
Northwestern PNotes:Year: Gr.
2022 stats: 2.09 ERA, 31-6, 251.0 IP, 333 SO, .195 OBA
Notes: Williams erased the Women's College World Series drought for Northwestern in 2022 after holding off Arizona State in super regionals. There was no question she was the workhorse of the Wildcat staff last season, pitching 251 innings and posting a 31-6 record. It appears she will have to take on a similar role this spring, but if anyone can do it successfully, it's Williams, a First-Team All-American. - 15
Chenise Delce
Arkansas P/UTLNotes:Year: R-Sr.
2022 stats: 2.12 ERA, 19-3, 151.2 IP, 188 SO
Notes: The Razorbacks reached new heights in 2022, which included an outright SEC championship and the program's first conference tournament title, and that is largely because of Delce's breakout performance. She posted a 2.12 earned run average with a 19-3 record and 188 strikeouts. Her numbers were even stronger in conference play (9-1, 1.87 ERA), leading her to be named the SEC's Pitcher of the Year. She also claimed All-American honors in 2022. - 16
Yannira Acuña
Arizona State OFNotes:Year: Gr.
2022 stats: .430 BA, 64 H, 63 R, 14 HR, 43 RBI
Notes: Our 2022 Most Improved Player put together the best season of her career last spring and earned All-American honors. She hit for a .430 average and hit 14 home runs. Acuña also tallied 43 RBIs, 19 doubles and scored 63 times, which were all career-highs. The Tucson native followed up her career-highs with a .852 slugging percentage and .562 on-base percentage. - 17
Hannah Gammill
Arkansas UTLNotes:Year: Jr.
2022 stats: .374 BA, 58 H, 50 R, 18 HR, 51 RBI
Notes: Gammill will headline the Arkansas offense in 2023. Along with her 18 home runs, she hit for a .374 clip on 58 hits in 2022, and had a .513 on-base percentage, 51 RBIs and 27 extra-base hits. Those numbers led Gammill to be named an All-SEC First-Team honoree and a First-Team All-American. This spring, Gammill has the ability to be the second straight Razorback named the SEC Player of the Year. - 18Last: 38
Sydney McKinney
Wichita State INFNotes:Year: Sr.
2022 stats: .522 BA, 97 H, 69 R, 13 HR, 38 RBI
Notes: The 2022 NCAA batting champion will take the field once again for the Shockers this spring and will look to continue to show why non–Power Five schools deserve recognition. Along with her .522 average, McKinney had a .849 slugging percentage and 1.415 OPS in 2022. She finished the 2022 campaign with 97 hits, 13 home runs, 12 doubles and 12 stolen bases. She was named a Second-Team All-American for her outstanding performance. - 19Last: 10
Aaliyah Jordan
UCLA OFNotes:Year: Gr.
2022 stats: Injured
Notes: Despite Jordan missing the majority of the 2022 season due to injury, she's still one of the best returning players in the country heading into the 2023 campaign. She holds a career batting average of .389, a .482 on-base percentage, 38 home runs and 197 RBIs. The All-American and three-time All-Pac-12 First-Team honoree was the Pac-12 batting champion in 2018. - 20
Erin Coffel
Kentucky INFNotes:Year: Jr.
2022 stats: .423 BA, 69 H, 44 R, 20 HR, 68 RBI
Notes: The Bremen, Ind. native had another strong year in 2022, posting a .423 batting average on 69 hits, with 20 of those being long balls. She also claimed 68 RBIs. Those lofty numbers led her to be named an All-SEC First-Team honoree as well as an All-American. It would not be a surprise to see Coffel named the SEC Player of the Year at the conclusion of conference play in 2023. - 21Last: 42
Addison Barnard
Wichita State UTLNotes:Year: Jr.
2022 stats: .391 BA, 66 H, 64 R, 33 HR, 84 RBI
Notes: The 2022 season was one to remember for Barnard, as she was named an All-American, the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and captured the program's single-season home run record with 33. Along with her tremendous home run numbers, she also posted an exceptional .391 batting average, .467 on-base percentage and 84 RBIs. Barnard has the potential to help the Shockers back to a regional final and potentially the program's first super regional appearance. - 22
Sara Mosley
Georgia INFNotes:Year: Sr.
2022 stats: .418 BA, 76 H, 51 R, 17 HR, 53 RBI
Notes: Georgia has almost always been known for having players who can hit home runs, which is what Mosley did in 2022, racking up 17 long balls. However, that often follows with lower averages for the Bulldogs, but Mosley is an exception. She hit for a .418 batting average and .473 on-base percentage. The now-senior also batted in 53 runs. Her well-rounded power and production allowed Mosley to be named an All-SEC First-Team honoree. - 23Last: 36
Carlie Scupin
Arizona 1BNotes:Year: Jr.
2022 stats: .369 BA, 66 H, 36 R, 19 HR, 59 RBI
Notes: Skaggs may have gotten the majority of the attention from the Arizona offense last season, and rightfully so, but you can't forget about Scupin. Scupin sent 19 softballs out of the yard last year with 59 RBIs. She also hit for a solid .369 batting average and .433 on-base percentage. She led the Wildcat offense with 18 multi-hit and 20 multi-RBI games in 2022. - 24Last: 29
Sharlize Palacios
UCLA CNotes:Year: R-Jr.
2022 stats: .326 BA, 56 H, 46 R, 20 HR, 64 RBI
Notes: Palacios was one of the handful of collegiate athletes who represented Team USA in 2022. Last spring, she mashed 20 home runs and collected 64 RBIs, while still posting a healthy .326 batting average and .441 on-base percentage as a player for Arizona. That allowed her to be named an All-Pac-12 First-Team honoree, and now with the Bruins, expect her to be a similar type of force. - 25Last: 11
Charla Echols
Florida INFNotes:Year: Gr.
2022 stats: .307 BA, 59 H, 29 R, 5 HR, 59 RBI
Notes: While 2022 was a slightly down year for Echols, she still tallied 59 RBIs and was a hitter no pitcher wanted to face. She was named a First-Team All-American in 2021, and we believe she'll return to her All-American ways in 2023, especially after having played with Team USA over the summer.
