Karli Hamilton

Classroom

Putting in just as much effort in the classroom, Hamilton has been rewarded for her coursework in each of her three playing seasons. Her academic accolades began with an Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team nod in 2016 and Academic All-Big 12 First-Team honors in 2018 and 2019. Hamilton made the President’s List in 2016 and powered her way to the Dean’s List in 2017 (her medical redshirt season). Hamilton made the President’s List again in 2018 and kept on top of her academics in 2019, as she was named to the Dean’s List for a second time. She qualified for a study abroad opportunity in July 2019 – Universidad Internacional Menédez Pelayo – where she studied in Seville, Spain. Additionally, Hamilton posted perfect 4.0 GPA semester in the Fall 2015, Spring 2016, and Spring 2018 semesters. Hamilton hopes to pursue a career working with a non-profit organization or with ministry outreach efforts.

Character

Two years before she became Texas Tech’s fourth All-American in program history, Hamilton battled through a medical injury that kept her out of competition during the 2017 season. During what would have been her sophomore season, Hamilton suffered a torn labrum and foot injury that ended her season before it had a chance to begin. Her foot injury began as a stress fracture in the sesamoid bone but eventually the bone broke in pieces, forcing doctors to perform a sesamoidectomy to remove the bone completely. Despite the sudden change of plans, Hamilton kept her head high and rose to be a team leader. She pushed through her injuries and performed drills as best as she could and returned to the field with force the next season. She relied heavily on her faith during that time and found her niche within Tech’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Fellowship of Christian Athletes organizations. Hamilton has been a three-year team captain for the Red Raiders.

Community

Hamilton has invested great amounts of time and resources into giving back to the community even before arriving at Texas Tech. Her community outreach efforts began in 2008, when she began volunteering with Angels of Light. She continued her efforts with the organization, as well as Baseball Buddies (beginning in 2010) until she left in 2014. Hamilton also went on a mission trip to Shreveport, La., in 2011. In her first year with Tech in 2015, she volunteered with Legacy Elementary School, Brookdale Monterey, and made pediatric hospital visits. In 2016, she volunteered with The Salvation Army, Children’s Home of Lubbock, and the Office of Community of Engagement, and provided meals for Ronald McDonald House. She partnered her time with South Plains Food Bank a, FCA and Lakeridge United Methodist Church in 2018 and worked heavily with the South Plains Food Bank and the Special Olympics in 2019. Additionally, she spent time with a young Tech fan recovering from brain cancer. She has served as the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Marketing with Texas Tech’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for the last three years and has been a team leader for FCA since the Fall of 2015. Investing in her passion for youth ministry, Hamilton served as a church camp leader and summer camp counselor from 2015-17. She was awarded the 2015-16 High Merit Techspy at Texas Tech Athletics’ annual awards banquet.

Competition

Helping Texas Tech to its first-ever preseason rankings, Hamilton was named a Softball America 2020 NCAA Preseason All-American ahead of the 2020 season. Hamilton became the fourth NFCA All-American in program history after earning NFCA All-Region First-Team and All-Big 12 First-Team honors as a junior in 2019. She received three Big 12 Player of the Week nods last season and set a program career and single-season record with eight triples. Hamilton led the Big 12 Conference with 73 hits and seven triples during the regular season while ranking second in the league with a .427 batting average. She became the first Big 12 player to record eight triples in a season since 2010 and tied for third in Big 12 single-season history with her triples mark. In her first year back from a medical redshirt season, Hamilton garnered All-Big 12 Second-Team and NISC All-Regional Team laurels as a sophomore in 2018, as well as one Big 12 Player of the Week award. She started all 59 games in right field and blasted eight home runs, 50 RBI, and 13 doubles. Hamilton tied for first in the Big 12 in triples, ranked third in stolen bases, and sat sixth overall in RBI. As a freshman in 2016, Hamilton made an immediate impact with 27 starts and 45 appearances. Seven of her 22 hits were home runs and she ended the season with a .521 slugging percentage and a .308 on-base percentage.