Three-Time All-American Pacer Softball Player Strickland’s Jersey to be Retired During Half-time of Men’s Game on Feb. 7
AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken athletic department and softball head coach Jerry Snyder have announced that on Monday, Feb. 7, 2011, the No. 18 jersey of three-time All-American catcher and 2009 USC Aiken graduate Jessica Strickland will be retired during half-time of the men's basketball game against Flagler College. Strickland will join Pacer great Jami Cornwell as the only two softball players to have their jerseys retired.
The honor should come as no surprise as the 2007 Peach Belt Conference Co-Player of the Year, commonly referred to as "Strick," was one of the most highly decorated players to come through USC Aiken in any sport.
Every student-athlete that enters a program wants to leave their mark on their squad and coaches in some way or another, and the four-time Peach Belt All-Conference selection did just that during her four years as the Pacers' backstop, ending her time on the Pacer softball squad with her name stamped in the top-10 in multiple categories in both the USC Aiken softball record book as well as the PBC softball record book.
"Jessica Strickland was one of the best softball players I have ever coached," remarked Coach Snyder. "She helped take our program to that next level during her time on the team."
As a freshman, "Strick" set herself a high bar of achievement earning the first of her four All-PBC honors and picked up two All-Region honors. She was named to the NFCA South Atlantic All-Region First Team and the Daktronics South Atlantic All-Region First Team.
While many athletes fall victim to the "sophomore slump," Strickland's sophomore campaign in 2007 proved to be her "breaking out" season and was one of the best in recent memory for a single Pacer softball player as she earned multiple post-season plaudits and was named USC Aiken's first-ever NFCA and Daktronics All-America selection. During that season, she broke four single-season records including most home runs (16), most RBIs (58), most total bases (129) and most intentional walks (eight).
She also equaled three USC Aiken single-game records, including two in a March 2, 2007 game against Tusculum when she knocked out two home runs and accrued nine total bases to lead the Pacers to a 5-4 win over the Pioneers.
"Strick" followed up her stout 2007 season in 2008 by earning her second NFCA All-America honor as well as earning All-Conference and All-Region laurels.
In her final season as a Pacer, she led the 2009 squad to the program's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Southeast Region Tournament where she was named to the Southeast Regional All-Tournament Team. A two-time Daktronics All-Region and four-time NFCA All-Region selection, she earned her third-consecutive All-America recognition while providing the driving force behind the 2009 team appearing in the NFCA top-25 list for the first time-ever.
"She is the kind of student-athlete any coach would love to have their entire career," mused Snyder. "I feel like she has made me a better coach for having the opportunity to coach her and I know she has made me a better person by knowing her."
Strickland ended her time in a Pacer uniform having laid claim to seven all-time career records and etching her name in the record books for several more. She is entering her second year as an assistant coach with the Aiken Technical College Knights' softball program where she coaches under former Pacer assistant coach Mitch Smith.
A list of all of Jessica's accomplishments can be found below.
Freshman Year: (2006)
• Daktronics South Atlantic All-Region First Team
• NFCA South Atlantic All-Region First Team
• Peach Belt All-Conference First Team
Sophomore Year: (2007)
• Daktronics All-America Third Team
• NFCA All-America Third Team
• Daktronics South Atlantic All-Region First Team
• Southeast All-Region First Team
• PBC Co-Player of the Year
• Peach Belt All-Conference First Team
• Peach Belt Conference All-Tournament Team
• Two-time PBC Player of the Week – Mar. 6 and Apr. 2
• Broke single season record for home runs with 16
• Broke single season record for RBI's with 58
• Broke single season record for total bases with 129
• Broke single season record for intentional walks with 8
• Tied single game record for home runs in a game (two vs. Tusculum, Mar. 2, 2007)
• Tied single game record for most total bases in a game (nine vs. Tusculum, Mar. 2, 2007)
• Tied single game record for most walks in a game (four vs. Armstrong Atlantic, Apr. 7, 2007)
Junior Year: (2008)
• NFCA All-American Second Team
• NFCA Southeast All-Region First Team
• Peach Belt All-Conference First Team
Senior Year: (2009)
• NFCA All-America Third Team
• NCAA Southeast Regional All-Tournament Team
• NFCA Southeast All-Region First Team
• Peach Belt All-Conference First Team
• Peach Belt Conference All-Tournament Team
• Earned PBC Player of the Week honors once – Apr. 6
• Led softball program to 1st ever appearance in NCAA Tournament
• Led softball program to 1st ever appearance on NFCA top 25 List
Career
• USCA record holder:
o Most home runs in a career (40)
o Highest career slugging percentage (.652)
o Highest on-base percentage (.432)
o Most hits in a career (232)
o Most RBIs in a career (151)
o Most total bases in a career (414)
o Most intentional walks in a career (14)
• Ranks 2nd in USCA history:
o Games played (204)
o Walks (68)
o Doubles (46)
o Runs scored (137)
• Ranks 3rd in USCA history:
o Career batting average (.365)
o Games started (203)
o Total chances (1152)
o Total putouts (1038)
• Ranks 4th in USCA history in sacrifice flies (5)
• Ranks 8th in USCA history in triples (8)
• Ranks 10th in USCA history in stolen bases (32)
• Ranks 5th in PBC history in career home runs (40)
• Ranks 9th in PBC history for home runs in a single season (16 in 2007)
• Ranks 11th in PBC history for RBIs (151)
Year avg gp-gs ab r h 2b 3b hr rbi tb slg% bb ob%
2006 0.350 42-41 143 30 50 10 1 5 21 77 0.538 5 0.382
2007 0.349 61-61 186 38 65 8 4 16 58 129 0.694 26 0.431
2008 0.373 51-51 166 29 62 14 1 7 31 99 0.596 9 0.412
2009 0.393 50-50 140 40 55 14 2 12 41 109 0.779 28 0.497
TOTAL 0.365 204-203 635 137 232 46 8 40 151 414 0.652 68 0.432
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