Foley sets NCAA strikeout record
On May 2, 2014, UIndy sophomore Morgan Foley put on a performance for the ages, striking out an NCAA-record 30 batters in a complete-game, 13-inning win versus Rockhurst in the opening round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament. The strikeout total surpassed the previous Division II record by four, while also besting the D-I (28) and D-III (25) marks. The Louisville, Ky., native also allowed just one hit – an 11th-inning single – before the Greyhound offense pushed across the game’s only run in the bottom of the 13th.
Game Recap | Box Score
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| Foley’s performance by the numbers: |
| 202 |
...pitches thrown by Foley |
| 38 |
...combined strikeout total for both starting pitchers, T-5th-highest total in D-II history |
| 30 |
...strikeouts by Foley |
| 25 |
...consecutive pitching wins for Foley at the time, 9th-longest such streak in D-II history |
| 13 |
...innings pitched by Foley |
| 10 |
...number of consecutive strikeouts for Foley to start the game |
| 8 |
...Rockhurst batters that struck out at least three times |
| 5 |
...innings that Foley struck out the side |
| 5 |
...strikeouts by Rockhurst’s leadoff hitter |
| 3 |
...walks allowed by Foley |
| 1 |
...base runners that reached second base |
| 1 |
...hits allowed by Foley |
Q & A with Foley:
Q: Coming into the game, did you have any idea what was about to happen, or that you were about to become a softball celebrity?
A: Well the day started like any other game day; I woke up, ate, got ready for the game, and got on the bus and started dancing with my team like we always do on game days. But one thing was different, the day of that game I felt more focused than I have ever felt before a game. I had a disappointment the night before that I felt fueled me to come out the next day and want to prove people wrong. I had no idea what was about to happen in the game, I just knew that we wern’t getting beat and I was going to do everything I could to shut the other team down.
Q:Â How did you keep your arm from giving in to the fatigue in the 13-inning game?
A: I honestly didn’t even feel tired until after we won. I think I just knew I had to keep pushing so I didn’t think about how much I had pitched or about being tired. It wasn’t until after the game that I even gave my body the okay to be tired.
Q: As the game went on, were you conscious of the fact that your strikeout totals were rising so high?
A: I wasn’t, when I’m pitching I try not to keep track of anything or think about anything. I try to stay focused and not jinx anything. After the seventh inning I had an idea of how many I had but there was a lot of game after that where I had no idea how many it was all adding up to.
Q: At any time, did you become aware that you were on your way into the history books?
A: I wasn’t aware of any of the records I set until after the game. All through the game I just saw my parents giving me thumbs up after every inning. As soon as I came out of the dugout and Coach was done talking to us, Coach’s mom came running over to me and was all excited to hug me and tell me about the records because she keeps our book. Then my parents were right next to her to congratulate me.
Q: How do you keep yourself mentally prepared for the next game, coming off such an impressive and talked-about performance?
A: I have always been told to take games one at a time. Once one game is over I try to forget about it by the next game. Same with my pitches, I take pitching one pitch at a time and forget about a good/bad pitch before I throw the next one so they don’t carry over into each other. That night I could think about it, talk about it, or whatever I wanted to do but by the next morning it had to be 0-0 game day.
