There is no denying that the home run makes softball a more fun game. Clearing the bases, especially in the later or final innings, is one of the more exciting moments in the sport. So, as the DII softball season approaches, let's take a look at some of the best to knock the ball out of the park.
You could possibly think that with the thin air of Colorado or the fact that everything is bigger in Texas, the RMAC or Lone Star Conference would be the place to find the most home runs. However, that wasn't the case in 2024. While the RMAC's Colorado Mesa did, in fact, lead DII softball in home runs, the Gulf South Conference slugged 814 total dingers. Valdosta State finished right behind Colorado Mesa with 119 home runs, but West Florida (4th overall), West Alabama (11th overall) Auburn Montgomery and Alabama Huntsville (tied for 13th overall), Mississippi College (17th overall) and Lee (19th overall) were all among the top 20 programs in home runs last year. It should be no surprise then, that Gulf South Conference hitters comprise 33 percent of the below list.
9 DII softball home-run hitters to watch in 2025
Emma Andrewski-Ramirez, Western Washington
Andrewjeski-Ramirez was a pleasant addition to the Vikings roster last season, coming into the program from BYU. There, she hit just one home run in 22 career games over two seasons. Last year, she became the primary catcher, starting 61 games for the Vikings and led the GNAC in home runs (18) and RBI (56), helping lead the Vikings to the championship series and a national runners-up campaign, the first in program history. She hit .304 with three home runs and 13 RBIs throughout the playoffs, showing she can do it when it matters most.
Myah Arrieta, Colorado Mesa
It was quite the 2024 for Arietta. The middle infielder had a nice start to her career, hitting over .380 with 12 home runs in 2022 and an injury-shortened 2023. However, last year, she broke out on a historic level, setting the Colorado Mesa and RMAC single-season record with 28 home runs. From March 22 to April 6, she hit a home run in 10-straight games — including a three-game stretch where she hit seven home runs — setting a new college softball record at any level. She earned the NFCA national player of the week three times and finished with the second most home runs in DII while also setting a new benchmark in the RMAC with 84 runs scored, 190 total bases and a 1.027 slugging percentage... all top 5 single-season marks in the history of DII softball.
Jessie Baughn, UWF
There are home runs a plenty in the Gulf South Conference, so don't be fooled by Baughn's fifth-place finish in home runs last year. In her first season with the Argonauts, she led the team with 17 home runs, more than any team leader in the past ten seasons and second-most in a single season in West Florida history. The outfielder also set the Argos' single-season record with a .907 slugging percentage while leading the team with 59 RBIs.
Savanna Brooks, Wingate
Brooks has been a steady home-run hitter in her first three years at Wingate, averaging 15 per season with a career-high of 19 last year. In each of her three seasons, she has improved in home runs by four — beginning with 11 as a freshman, 15 in 2023, and her career-best year in 2024. Brooks is Wingate's all-time leader in home runs and her 19 last season set the single-season mark as she earned both SAC and Southeast Region player-of-the-year honors. She led the SAC in home runs and finished third with 60 RBIs, and with her back to lead that Bulldogs' lineup, Wingate is projected to be No. 1 in the conference this season.
Ally Distler, Colorado Mesa
In the 1980s, the Oakland Athletics had Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, a duo nicknamed the Bash Brothers because of their slugging prowess. Well, meet the other half of Colorado Mesa's Slugging Sisters. Distler — a two-time All-American catcher/utility player — belted 19 home runs, topping her career high of 18 set the year prior. She combined with Arietta to hit 46 home runs, more than seven of the 12 RMAC teams had all season. She also tied with her fellow home-run hitter for the second-most RBIs in the RMAC with 68. If the duo can build on last year, the Mavericks could very well find themselves back in the South Central Region championship game.
Lauren Harris, McKendree
Harris had quite the DII softball debut in 2023. She hit .444 with 10 home runs and 57 RBIs with four stolen bases, culminating with the GLVC freshman and player of the year award. She absolutely dwarfed every one of those numbers in her 2024 follow-up campaign with one of the best offensive resumes in the division last year. She hit .511 — which led DII —had 18 home runs — which was 12th in DII — had 65 RBIs — which was 18th in DII — and added 53 runs scored and 24 stolen bases. All those numbers culminated with her second-straight GLVC player of the year... and you shouldn't be surprised if there is a third in her future.
Aniston Gano, Valdosta State
The Blazers, who are one of the home-run happiest teams in DII softball on an annual basis, were once again loaded in 2024, finishing second overall with 119 home runs. Though it was her teammate who led all DII in home runs, Gano was right there, blasting 22 of her own to finish fourth. It was a huge bounce back for her, missing all of 2023 with an injury after a promising first two seasons where she hit over .320 with 24 home runs combined. She'll look to blast her way to the top of the rankings once again in 2025.
Marissa Mitchell, West Alabama
Mitchell is well-traveled, having played at Crowder and Tuskegee before landing with the Tigers, but she has hit homers at every stop with 45 in her career. She followed up her 2023 All-SIAC campaign by winning the GSC Player of the Year. Mitchell led DII in RBIs (82) and RBIs per game (1.52) while blasting 23 home runs, the third-most in DII last year. No comfortable in the lineup, expect more domination from the Tigers' left-handed slugging infielder in 2025.
Terin Ritz, Central Oklahoma
Ritz is one of the most dominating players in DII, a weapon at both the plate in the circle. She was a first-team All-American and co-MIAA player of the year. While this is a home run on offense, a quick look at what Ritz does in the circle is required to show just how impressive a player she is. Last year, she went 21-7 with a 1.50 ERA and 14 complete games. At the plate, she crushed every one of her career highs, hitting .381 with 12 doubles, 58 RBIs, and 18 home runs. When you look at a player who can truly do it all, Ritz is one of the few who answers the call.
