On May 4, 2024, Karli Spaid capped her historic senior season by launching her 36th home run, putting her just one shy of the all-time Ƶ Division I single-season record set nearly three decades earlier.
That mark — 37 home runs — has stood since Arizona’s Laura Espinoza set the record in 1995. Since then, a number of elite power hitters have come close.
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Below is every DI player to hit at least 30 home runs in college softball single-season history.
Full list of college softball single-season home run leaders
| PLAYER | TEAM | YEAR | GAMES | HOME RUNS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Espinoza | Arizona | 1995 | 72 | 37 |
| Karli Spaid | Miami (OH) | 2024 | 58 | 36 |
| Jocelyn Alo | Oklahoma | 2022 | 62 | 34 |
| Jocelyn Alo | Oklahoma | 2021 | 60 | 34 |
| Addison Barnard | Wichita State | 2022 | 52 | 33 |
| Lexie Elkins | Louisiana | 2015 | 54 | 32 |
| Camilla Carrera | UTEP | 2012 | 53 | 32 |
| Stacie Chambers | Arizona | 2009 | 63 | 31 |
| Stacey Nuveman | UCLA | 1999 | 69 | 31 |
| Jocelyn Alo | Oklahoma | 2018 | 62 | 30 |
| Megan Baltzell | Longwood | 2013 | 61 | 30 |
| Lauren Chamberlain | Oklahoma | 2013 | 61 | 30 |
| Lauren Chamberlain | Oklahoma | 2012 | 64 | 30 |
| Kelly Majam | Hawaii | 2010 | 66 | 30 |
| Danyele Gomez | Louisiana | 2006 | 62 | 30 |
| Laura Espinoza | Arizona | 1994 | 66 | 30 |
Single-season slugging legends
Laura Espinoza | Arizona, 1995
Espinoza’s 1995 season is still the gold standard for Ƶ power hitting. She blasted 37 home runs across 72 games, helping to lead a powerhouse Arizona squad to the Women’s College World Series. Espinoza also set Ƶ DI single-season records for RBIs (132) and total bases (232) that year — both marks that still stand.
Karli Spaid | Miami (OH), 2024
Spaid came within one swing of history in 2024. Her 36 home runs broke the MAC single-season record and ranks second all-time nationally. She led Division I in home runs and slugging percentage that season, cementing her legacy as one of the most successful hitters of the modern era.
The moment Karli Spaid made history 📽️
— Miami Softball (@MiamiOH_SB)
Jocelyn Alo | Oklahoma, 2021 & 2022
The Ƶ’s all-time home run queen showed off her power with back-to-back 34-homer seasons during Oklahoma’s dominant run. Alo was named USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and the Sooners captured the WCWS title in both of these 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Addison Barnard | Wichita State, 2022
In just 52 games, Barnard crushed 33 home runs — an astonishing home run-per-game pace. She ranked second in the nation in slugging that 2022 season and helped Wichita State rise as a national contender.
Lexie Elkins | Louisiana, 2015
Elkins powered the Ragin’ Cajuns with 32 homers in 54 games, driving in 83 runs and finishing with a 1.077 slugging percentage in 2015. Her impressive bat speed and compact swing made her a nightmare for pitchers across the country.
Camilla Carrera | UTEP, 2012
Carrera’s 32-home run season in 2012 came with little national spotlight, but it ranks among the most efficient power displays in Ƶ history. She hit a home run in over 60 percent of her games and led the nation in slugging that year (1.199).
