Baylor softball star sets program power marks
The 18th-ranked Baylor softball team closes out the regular season at home this weekend with a pivotal series against Texas, providing Lady Bear fans with one more chance to witness and celebrate the record-breaking achievements of one of the program’s all-time greats.
One could make a very good argument that senior Shelby Friudenberg is the best hitter in Baylor softball history. The Central Texas native, who grew up just 20 minutes from campus in nearby Bruceville-Eddy, is now the program’s all-time leader in both home runs and runs batted in (RBI).
Friudenberg broke both records last month. In the Lady Bears’ win over Texas Tech April 8 in Lubbock, Friudenberg hit the 45th home run of her career, passing Chelsi Lake-Reichenstein, BA ’08, for the top spot in Baylor softball history. Last weekend, she added yet another milestone record, passing Lake’s RBI total of 184 in a win at Iowa State.
The two records had stood for over a decade each, but it was clear from the beginning of Friudenberg’s time in green and gold that she had a chance to etch her name atop the lists. In 2015, she hit the most home runs of any freshman in program history (18) and led the team with 46 RBI. She followed with double-digit home runs and more than 50 RBI in both her sophomore and junior seasons.
Along the way, Friudenberg also hit over .300 each season, reached the postseason all three years, and was a big part of last year’s squad that reached the Women’s College World Series for the fourth time in program history. She’s been honored as a Freshman All-American, an All-Big 12 performer, and on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll for her academic work (while double-majoring in management and marketing).
All told, she’s a career .336 hitter — an average which sits just outside Baylor’s all-time top 10 — with 47 home runs and 187 RBI in 226 games played. Besides home runs and RBI, Friudenberg also ranks in the top 10 in career slugging percentage (3rd), walks (3rd), total bases (4th), multi-hit games (t-5th) and on-base percentage (t-7th), and she has a good shot at cracking the top 10 in career hits, runs scored and doubles.
Baylor fans can cheer for Friudenberg two more times at Getterman Stadium. The Lady Bears and Texas are tied for third place in the Big 12 with identical 10-6 records, with games Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. As the Lady Bears look to finish the regular season on a high note before the postseason begins, Friudenberg will look to contribute by setting new benchmarks with every home run and RBI.
Sic ’em, Shelby Friudenberg!