Faith Jordan Adds Her Name to the List
San Diego State’s Faith Jordan threw the fifth no-hitter in program history on March 4, a 13-0 five-inning rout of Long Beach State. Jordan, a transfer from Fresno State, recorded two strikeouts and two walks in her complete-game shutout, making an immediate impact in her first season with the Aztecs. The no-hitter was notable for more than just the result. Jordan became the third SDSU pitcher to throw a no-hitter on March 4, joining Celena Velasquez in 2005 and Bre DeDanta in 2003 in a coincidence that defies easy explanation.
Transfer pitchers making this kind of statement early in their tenure with a new program speaks to the depth of talent across college softball. Jordan did not just contribute at San Diego State. She immediately became one of the program’s most accomplished pitchers in a single afternoon.
Canady’s Two No-Hitters Set a Program Record
The most dominant pitcher in college softball right now is Nijaree Canady, and the numbers are getting absurd. Canady threw the 12th and 13th no-hitters in Texas Tech program history this season, becoming the first Red Raider pitcher ever to record multiple no-nos in a single year. Conference play has not even started. The pace Canady is on, if it continues, would make this one of the greatest individual pitching seasons in Big 12 history.
What makes Canady’s dominance particularly striking is the context. She is doing this against competitive non-conference schedules, not mid-week mismatches. The fact that she enters Big 12 play with two no-hitters already in her back pocket tells opposing coaches everything they need to know about what they are up against. Lineups that succeed against Canady this season will have earned it.
The Broader Pitching Trend in 2026
Jordan and Canady are not outliers. Western Kentucky’s Erica Houge threw the Hilltoppers’ 14th program no-hitter in a six-inning shutout of IU Indianapolis, and Elon’s Anna Dew spun a perfect game against Charleston Southern. The volume of no-hit performances across college softball in early 2026 suggests something bigger than individual talent. Pitching, as a position group, is dominating at a rate that deserves attention.
Whether the trend reflects a generational pitching class, adjustments in training and pitch development, or simply a hot start that will normalize over the course of the season is an open question. What is clear is that hitters across every conference are facing a level of pitching quality that has made reaching base harder than it has been in recent years. For fans who appreciate pitching duels and dominant performances in the circle, 2026 is delivering exactly that.
What’s Next
Conference play opening this weekend across the SEC, Big 12, and Big Ten will provide the next test for these pitchers. Canady faces Big 12 lineups for the first time at Houston. Jordan and SDSU continue their schedule against Mountain West competition. The no-hitter count will keep climbing as the season progresses, and Canady’s pursuit of additional program records will be one of the most compelling individual storylines in college softball through the spring.
