Baylor softball opens 2016 ranked 16th nationally
Friday will mark the fifth straight Opening Day in which Baylor softball has ranked among the nation’s top 25. This year’s squad opens the season at No. 16 in the polls, pegged by league coaches to finish second in the Big 12.
In a sport that demands excellent pitching to be successful, the Lady Bears feature one of the nation’s top starters and quality depth behind her. Senior Heather Stearns returns as the staff ace, coming off an outstanding junior season in which she led the Big 12 in strikeouts, notched 21 wins and finished in the league’s top 5 in ERA. Behind her is a deep staff that features sophomore Kendall Potts, a Big 12 All-Freshman team honoree last spring, and transfer Kelsee Selman, a former high school All-American who posted a 15-3 record in two seasons at LSU.
At the plate, head coach Glenn Moore’s team mixes power and speed. Outfielder Linsey Hays enters her senior season within striking distance of Baylor’s all-time home run and RBI records — marks that have stood for almost a decade. Coming off the best freshman season in program history, first baseman Shelby Frieudenberg was earlier this month named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year watch list. The team also returns their leading hitter from last year, junior second baseman Ari Hawkins, as well as seniors Sarah Smith (third base) and Robin Landrith (catcher).
Even before the first pitch is thrown, the team has enjoyed an eventful 2016. The Lady Bears spent their Christmas break on a mission trip to Ghana, sharing the Gospel and their love of softball with children in the West African nation. They came back with a changed perspective, a stronger chemistry and a deeper appreciation for the ability to play the game they love at a place like Baylor.
The Lady Bears open the season this weekend with a three-game series against McNeese State, beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. The 2016 schedule features games against top programs like Central Florida, Louisiana-Lafayette and Oklahoma at Getterman Stadium, which received updates this offseason that further enhance the beauty of the nation’s top softball facility.
Sic ’em, Baylor Softball!