Who has the most strikeouts in the College World Series? Taking a look at CWS records

The College World Series has seen numerous special moments over the years, particularly from pitchers. It is the biggest stage of college baseball, and there's a lot of motivation to set career bests in Omaha.

Before Game 1 of the CWS finals, let's examine the most strikeouts in CWS history according to the NCAA record books.

Who has the most strikeouts in the College World Series in a single game?

Steve Arlin owns the record for most strikeouts in a single College World Series game with 20. The late great Ohio State pitcher achieved the feat against Washington State in 1965. Arlin almost singlehandedly decimated the Cougars' batters and his record remains unbroken decades later. Although, he needed 15 innings to get the record.

Behind Arlin, two pitchers have recorded 17 strikeouts. Arizona State's Ed Bane first reached the mark in a 1972 shutout of Oklahoma. Then, LSU's Ty Floyd tied it in 2023 as he fanned 17 batters against Florida. Floyd needed just eight innings and 122 pitches to get his 17 Ks.

Unfortunately, since Floyd's game went into extra innings, Bane officially holds the record for most strikeouts in a nine-inning CWS game.

Meanwhile, five pitchers are tied with 16 strikeouts: Clemson's Harold Stowe (1959), Arizona's Jim Ward (1960), USC's Larry Hankhammer (1961), Arizona State's Gary Gentry (1967), and LSU's Brett Laxton (1993). Of those five, Ward, Hankhammer, Gentry, and Laxton did it in a nine-inning game.

Who has the most strikeouts in a single College World Series run?

In terms of most strikeouts over the course of a College World Series campaign, Bob Garibaldi is clearly on top. The Santa Clara pitcher recorded 38 strikeouts over five games in 1967. Santa Clara lost to Michigan in the final, but Garibaldi was named Most Outstanding Player.

Gary Gentry is second with 31 Ks in 1967. Interestingly, those came in just two games. Over half of those strikeouts came in a single game as Gentry had 16 against Oklahoma State.

Arlin is tied with four others (Dave Winfield, Greg Swindell, and Jason Windsor) for second with 29 in 1965. Most of those came in his record-breaking game against Washington State.