Baylor Bears
Overall Rank: #9
Conference Rank: #2 Big 12
Baylor is coming into the 2018 season with a lot of returning experience from last year’s team that went to the 2017 Women’s College World Series. The Bears took everyone’s best shot in the NCAA Tournament as they were tested by James Madison and then went on the road to Tucson and upset Arizona in the Super Regionals. Glenn Moore has built a program that can battle with anyone in the country on a given day and will be a force to be reckoned with once again in 2018.
2017: 48-15, 13-5
2017 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Glenn Moore
Key Departed Players:
Lindsey Cargill, OF/IF, .430 BA, 0 HR, 15 RBI, 34 SB
Ari Hawkins, IF, .304 BA, 5 HR, 30 RBI, 12 SB
Kelsee Selman, P, 1.86 ERA, 24-9 W-L, 225.1 IP, 53 BB, 200 SO
Key Returning Players:
Kyla Walker, OF, 418 BA, 0 HR, 23 RBI, 19 SB
Jesse Scroggins, OF, .352 BA, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 17 SB
Shelby Friudenberg, IF, .345 BA, 11 HR, 51 RBI
Maddison Kettler, OF/IF, .339 BA, 1 HR, 20 RBI, 11 SB
Taylor Ellis, IF, .256 BA, 0 HR, 14 RBI
Goose McGlaun, P/INF, .251 BA, 11 HR, 35 RBI, 2.43 ERA, 6-2 W-L, 57.2 IP, 20 BB, 52 SO
Gia Rodoni, P, 1.72 ERA, 18-4 W-L, 146.2 IP, 38 BB, 142 SO
Projection:
What makes the Baylor team so dangerous on an annual basis is their knack of combining speed and timely power throughout their everyday lineup. Kyla Walker leads a group of returning players that will cause opposing pitching staffs problems all season long. Walker hit .418, drove in 23 runs and stole 19 bases last season. Jessie Scroggins and Maddison Kettler are back as well and they have a little more power to go with their speed. They both hit over .330 last season. Goose McGlaun and Shelby Friudenberg are the top returning power hitters and they should have plenty of chances to drive in at least 50 runs apiece this season. Gia Rodoni was clutch in the circle during last year’s NCAA Tournament. Rodoni hurled back to back no hitters, which helped jump start the Bears on their postseason run. Rodoni will be the ace with the graduation of Kelsee Selman and it will be to up Rodoni to keep moving forward by throwing strikes and not putting unnecessary baserunners on via the walk. In addition, there are three SEC transfers that should instantly bolster the depth for Baylor as they try to run down Oklahoma in the Big 12. Carlee Wallace and Nicky Dawson should be able to produce at a high level offensively and Regan Green will provide more depth in the circle for Coach Glenn Moore. You can expect the Bears to win about 45 games and be right on the edge of a top eight national seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Softball Tournament
