Baylor softball makes NCAA tournament for program-record 8th straight year

Baylor has been responsible for some of college softball’s most memorable moments over the last few years during the program’s run of eight consecutive postseason appearances. Whether it’s two no-hitters in a weekend, historic comebacks, or extra-inning heroics, the Lady Bears have established a national reputation as a postseason force.

This year, their postseason run will begin on the home field of an old rival. The 14th-ranked Lady Bears are the No. 2 seed in this weekend’s College Station Regional, where they’ll open play against Southland Conference tournament champions McNeese State Friday at 3:30 p.m. Former Big 12 foe Texas A&M, the No. 15-ranked team nationally, is the top-seeded team in the regional; Prairie View A&M rounds out the field.

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Baylor heads into the tournament with a 36-16 overall record, having finished tied for second in the Big 12 during the regular season and reached the Big 12 tournament title game for the first time in program history. The Lady Bears are led at the plate by two of the Big 12’s top three hitters, junior Kyla Walker (.457 average) and senior Jessie Scroggins (.449). If those batting averages hold, they would be the two highest in program history. Senior Shelby Friudenberg has provided the power, becoming the Lady Bears’ all-time leading home run hitter and run producer earlier this season. In the circle, junior Gia Rodoni had another stellar season, pacing the pitching staff with a 22-11 record, a 2.11 ERA and a Big 12-leading 251 strikeouts.

The selection marks the eighth straight year the Lady Bears have reached the NCAA tournament and their 13th appearance overall, all of which have come under head coach Glenn Moore, who has led the program to a 45-28 overall postseason record with six Super Regional berths and four Women’s College World Series appearances.

Sic ’em, Lady Bears!