SPARTANBURG, S.C. - As USC Upstate Softball closes the chapter on the 2025 season, the hard work and recognition continues to be displayed as the NCAA officially declared Taliyah Thomas as the statistical champion for toughest player to strike out in NCAA Division I Softball during the 2025 season. 

Thomas came into the season with high hopes, with much experience in her collegiate career looking to make the leap she worked so hard for. The Spartans' lineup featured eight starters batting over .300 and six players with 50+ hits, with Taliyah Thomas being one of the players to do so. Thomas went from a .290 batting average during her sophomore season to a .373 batting average during her junior season. With 145 at-bats during the 2024 season, Thomas added 42 hits while being struck out 18 times. The offseason work along with perfecting her craft during fall ball was recognized by her peers including Head Coach, Chris Hawkins mentioning before the season on January 22, 2025, that she was hitting the ball as well as he had seen her. Taliyah Thomas stepped up to the plate 177 times while jumping to 65 hits and only being struck out twice through 52 games played. The presence of Taliyah Thomas with effort, hard work, and consistency earned recognition for being named to the Big South First Team All-Conference at the end of the season along with being named to the NFCA All-Region Third team. With another conference championship to her resume along with another appearance at the NCAA Regionals, the Spartans are expected to see more growth from the outfielder as she looks to return with more to prove ahead of the 2026 season.