AUSTIN, Texas – Legendary Longhorns pitcher Cat Osterman will have her No. 8 jersey officially retired on March 25 as part of ceremonies surrounding Texas' mid-week home contest against UT Arlington at Red & Charline McCombs Field.

In the process, Osterman will become the first UT softball player and third Texas female student-athlete to have her jersey retired. That number includes recent Longhorns women's basketball recipients Clarissa Davis (March 8) and Kamie Ethridge (Sept. 2019).

Time for No. 8⃣ to take her rightful place!

We're honored to announce that legendary Texas pitcher @catosterman's jersey will be the first to be retired in UT softball history!

Ceremonies will be held at McCombs Field on March 25 as we play UT Arlington! #TexasFamily #HookEm pic.twitter.com/svdIaNuj6d

— Texas Softball (@TexasSoftball) January 21, 2020

"A three-time National Player of the Year, Cat Osterman was as dominant of a college athlete as you will ever see," Texas Vice President and Director of Athletics Chris Del Conte said. "When she took to the circle, she was just unstoppable and amazing to watch. It's a special, special honor to have your jersey number retired, and no one is more worthy of that than Cat. She continues to make us so proud long after her time on the Forty Acres. A two-time Olympic medalist who played professionally for years and now is a veteran coach, it's so cool that she came out of retirement this year to help our Team USA go for the Gold in Tokyo. We're so proud of her, she's a blessing to Texas Athletics and can't wait to celebrate her later this spring."

During a decorated career on the Forty Acres, Osterman, a three-time USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year, four-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American and two-time ESPY Award winner for Best Female College Athlete put up a staggering career record of 136-25 with a 0.51 ERA and 2,265 strikeouts while helping the Longhorns to three Women's College World Series appearances.

Osterman still holds the NCAA record for the highest career strikeout-per-seven-inning ratio at 14.34, remains the only player in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in ERA on three occasions and managed 20 no-hitters and seven perfect games while at Texas.

If it wasnt for @CoachcClark There would be no Cat at Texas! Love you coach!! There arent enough characters to list Cat's records and accomplishments! There will never be another #8! Ultimate competitor, teammate, and champion! @catosterman legacy is secured forever! Love ya Cat! pic.twitter.com/zLUphvlZfY

— Anthony Geronimo (@ATXANT10) January 22, 2020

"The news of my upcoming jersey retirement put tears in my eyes," Osterman said. "I cannot thank Chris Del Conte, Chris Plonsky and the University of Texas enough for this honor. It was an absolute privilege to have the opportunity to represent Longhorn nation as a student-athlete at Texas. It's mind-blowing to think my jersey will now be retired alongside some of the greatest athletes to ever play their sport on the Forty Acres."

Drafted No. 1 overall in the 2006 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Draft, Osterman went on to tremendous pro success over an eight-year career with the Rockford Thunder and USSSA Pride. She led the Thunder to the league title in 2009 and captured three more Cowles Cup championships with the Pride in 2010, 2013 and 2014. Osterman was named All-NPF on six occasions and the NPF's Pitcher of the Year three times (2011, 2013, 2014).

"To have Cat Osterman become the first softball player to have her jersey retired at the University of Texas is befitting, as her name and Texas Softball are truly synonymous," Texas head coach Mike White said. "Cat helped to elevate our softball program to national prominence during her career on the Forty Acres. It is so exciting to have her number "8" immortalized into Texas Softball history and to honor her contribution to the growth of collegiate softball not only in the U.S., but also throughout the world."

On an international level, Osterman won gold as the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic Softball Team in Athens in 2004 and then took silver four years later in Beijing. She recently highlighted an impressive comeback from retirement by earning a roster spot on the USA Softball Women's National Team for the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics scheduled for July-August 2020.

Most recently, Osterman has been serving as an associate head coach on the softball coaching staff at Texas State in San Marcos, Texas.

Visit https://texassports.com/sports/softball for more info.