Tennessee's Karlyn Pickens set the record for the fastest pitch ever thrown in NCAA softball history on March 24, 2025.
In a 3-2 win over Arkansas, Pickens delivered a 78.2 mph pitch in the sixth inning. It was called a strike, right at the knees.
KARLYN PICKENS SETS THE RECORD FOR THE FASTEST PITCH IN COLLEGE SOFTBALL HISTORY 🔥🤯 78.2 MPH x 🎥 SECN /
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball)
This broke the previous record that Pickens herself had just recently tied not too long before — 77 mph.
At the time, she had matched Tennessee softball legend Monica Abbott, one of the greatest softball pitchers of all time. Abbott had set the mark during a 2012 National Pro Fastpitch game. During her time at Tennessee, she pitched 23 no-hitters and six perfect games, making her one of the most decorated college softball pitchers ever.
Abbott was one of the first to celebrate Pickens for breaking her own record.
: "I’m literally still thinking about it. So incredibly impressive."
This garnered so much attention on the internet. MLB posted, "78 mph from 43 feet away? That’s gas."
Even recent college softball stars and now pro players Skylar Wallace and Sierra Romero set up the radar to try and hit 78 mph. Quite a few strikeouts happened before they made contact.
Pickens even got an invite from the Savannah Bananas to pitch in their game, to which she immediately replied, "When and where? And can the team get tickets?"
There have been lots of arguments about how this converts to the baseball mound. Many would argue a 78 mph pitch from softball’s distance is equivalent to a 100+ mph pitch in baseball.
In a fun coincidence, Tennessee also holds the record for the fastest-ever college baseball pitch thrown. Ben Joyce set the record with a 105.5 mph pitch. The Vols are starting to be known for their flamethrowers.
Either way, this is legendary stuff from Pickens — moving the sport forward and etching her name in the record books.
