![\"Baylor](\"https:\/\/www2.baylor.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/softball-feb19.jpg\")
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With the first pitch of the 2019 season set for Friday night in Mexico, the Baylor softball team<\/a> finds itself in a familiar spot — ranked among the nation\u2019s top 25 teams in the preseason rankings for the eighth straight year.<\/p>\n The Lady Bears came in 18th nationally in the preseason coaches poll and 19th in the USA Softball poll<\/a>. Closer to home, Big 12 coaches predict a third-place finish for Baylor<\/a> behind Oklahoma and Texas.<\/p>\n Lofty expectations are the norm for a program enjoying the most successful decade in its history, with\u00a0eight straight NCAA tournament appearances<\/a> and three Women\u2019s College World Series appearances (2011<\/a>, 2014<\/a>, 2017<\/a>). This year\u2019s squad will be tasked with replacing the production of three of the best players in school history<\/a>. That task will be handled by 10 new players and veteran leaders who were a part of that last World Series team in 2017.<\/p>\n At the plate, junior infielder Goose McGlaun is expected to supply the power, coming off a career high 14 homers and 51 RBI last year, while junior infielder Nicky Dawson looks to build on a sophomore season that saw her reach base 46% of the time. In the circle, Baylor will look to sophomore Sidney Holman and junior Regan Green to shoulder the load as\u00a0senior ace Gia Rodoni will miss the season following knee surgery<\/a>.\u00a0A talented incoming class is highlighted by infielder Kassidy Krupit, one of just 20 players in the nation named to the 2019 USA Softball Junior Women\u2019s National Training Team<\/a>.<\/p>\n