Taylor played high school softball at Valencia High School in Valencia, California. As a Senior in 2007, she compiled a perfect record of 32-0, setting the record for "the best record in state history." During the 2007 season, she threw 24 shutouts and four no-hitters and allowed only six earned runs in 216 innings pitched for a 0.19 ERA. She also struck out 406 batters for an average of 13.2 strikeouts per seven innings. During her high school career at Valencia, Taylor had a record of 77-8 with an 0.27 ERA and 1,055 strikeouts in 579.1 innings. She was selected as the 2007 National High School Coaches Player of The Year while playing for Valencia. Also as a Senior, Taylor set the California state record for most wins in a week with 10.
Michigan
Taylor enrolled at the University of Michigan in the fall of 2007 and was selected as a 2008 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Second Team All-American, Big TenFirst Team and Freshman of The Year. On February 8, she made her debut vs. Maryland Terrapins in the Kick-off Classic; she surrendered no earned runs in a 2-0 loss. She went on to toss a no-hitter and rank top-10 in school season records for wins, ERA, WHIP and shutouts, all career bests. The wins is a top-10 conference season record and ranked top-10 in the NCAA, along with the ERA. Beginning in a March 20 loss to the Fresno State Bulldogs, Taylor began a career best 49.1 consecutive scoreless innings streak broken by the Wisconsin Badgers on April 11. She was 7-1 over 10 games, striking out 74 and allowing 23 hits and three walks. The first win of the streak on March 21 also began a 15 consecutive game win streak for the Freshman, ending on May 8. For her Sophomore year, Taylor threw two no-hitters and on May 3 tied a school record when she struck out 16 in regulation vs. the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Wolverines entered the Women's College World Series and won a first round contest against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Taylor threw four shutout innings vs. the No. 1 seeded Florida Gators on May 29 before they eventually lost and were eliminated by the Georgia Bulldogs. As a Junior in 2010, she repeated NFCA Second Team honors and was named the Co-Big Ten Player of The Year and Pitcher of The Year after compiling a 26-4 record with a 1.44 ERA, including top-10 strikeouts and career best strikeout ratio of 11.1 season records. These would help lead to a Big Ten pitching Triple Crown. She also tossed three no-hitters, including two perfect games. The first came on April 10 vs. the Minnesota Gophers. Back on February 14, she racked up 18 strikeouts in defeating the UCLA Bruins in 13-innings, a career high. For a final season, Taylor earned Second Team All-American status and conference First Team honors. She posted two no-hitters and top-10 school records in wins, strikeouts, innings and shutouts. She ranks top-10 for the wins and strikeouts in the Big Ten season records as well as top-10 in that NCAA year for ERA and shutouts. In a loss to the Western Kentucky Lady Toppers on March 13, Taylor struck out her 1000th career batter. On May 5, she nabbed her 100th victory, a run-rule defeat of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Taylor would graduate tops in Michigan Wolverines career wins, strikeouts, innings pitched and no-hitters, ranking top-10 in just about every other category. She holds the conference strikeouts and winning percentage crowns. Taylor is tied seventh in career saves in the NCAA Division I.
