10 Mid-Major Players You Shouldn't Overlook In 2021

By Jacob Rodriguez
on August 31, 2020

It's no secret that Division I college softball is typically dominated by players from the Power Five programs. The big-name student-athletes from some of the country's historically dominant Division I programs are often the ones whose names are known across the entire college softball landscape.

But there are several mid-major players at the Division I level who are also worthy of recognition for their performances on the softball field.

See below for 10 mid-major players you shouldn't overlook in 2021.

Kate Gordon

James Madison - RS Senior

The red-shirt senior led the country with a .557 batting average in 2020, while also hitting 10 home runs. She collected 34 hits and 21 RBI to boot.

Alyse Rojas

UC Davis - Senior

In her shortened junior season, Rojas posted a .485 batting average, seven home runs and 23 RBI. She also led the country with 50 hits.

Megan Delgadillo

Cal State Fullerton - Sophomore

Delgadillo hit .408 as a freshman, while also collecting 31 hits. She also proved to be a threat on the bases with her 16 stolen bags in 2020.

Courtney Vierstra

Miami - Senior

During the 2020 season, Vierstra collected 140 strikeouts and opponents struggled to figure her out, batting just .171 against her.

Johneisha Rowe

Florida Gulf Coast - Sophomore

Rowe had a phenomenal start to her career at Florida Gulf Coast. As a freshman, she collected 39 hits and a .481 batting average, which ranked in the top 20 nationally.

Saige Pye

Marshall - Senior

Pye was electric in the Marshall lineup in 2020. She ranked nationally with her .463 batting average and collected 37 hits, eight home runs and 28 RBI in the shortened campaign.

Matalasi Faapito

New Mexico State - Sophomore

In Faapito’s first season with New Mexico State, she found all kinds of success in the circle and the batter's box. Offensively, she hit .403 with seven homers and 23 RBI. She also collected 43 strikeouts in the circle.

Tristin Achenbach

Montana - Senior

At the end of the shortened 2020 season, Achenbach found herself leading the Big Sky Conference in strikeouts with 76, wins with nine and innings pitched with 81.2. Montana will look to her again in 2021 to pick up where she left off.

Lewa Day

Sacramento State - Sophomore

A spark in the Sacramento State lineup, Day posted a .413 batting average last season to go along with 31 hits, six long balls and a .707 slugging percentage.

Kennedy Sullivan

Western Kentucky - Junior

Sullivan posted a .417 batting average and collected 35 hits for Western Kentucky in 2020. She also struck out 59 batters for the Hilltoppers in the circle.