By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor No. 18 Baylor men’s tennis advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament Friday afternoon in College Station. The Bears posted a 4-0 sweep of No. 36 Arizona State to move on to Saturday’s second round matchup against the winner of host Texas A&M and Lamar. Baylor head coach Matt Knoll said that after preaching it all season long, his team showed up in all nine spots and competed at a level capable of doing some serious damage in the tournament. “This was the first day where I thought that all nine spots…
Author: Nathan Keil
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor women’s tennis advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament Friday afternoon in Los Angeles with a thrilling 4-3 win over NC State. The Lady Bears fell behind 3-0 before mounting their comeback to take the final four singles matches and claim the victory. Baylor head coach Joey Scrivano said that his team shoed a tremendous amount of heart, refusing to go down without a fight. “The circumstances were completely against us for the three hours and 55 minutes. We were behind in the match, but we have some really gritty players…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor baseball continued to swing hot bats Wednesday night. The Bears posted their second straight seven-inning run rule game and extend their winning streak to 12 straight with a 13-0 win over Prairie View A&M. Baylor head coach Steve Rodriguez said his team has been buying into focusing on themselves and not their opponent and part of that focus begins with their approach at the plate. “You focus on playing the game as hard as you can, you have no control over what the other team does, we only have control over what we…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor women’s golf advanced out of the Austin Regional Wednesday afternoon. The Lady Bears finished in a tie for third place, despite having three players come down with a virus forcing one to withdraw. Junior Maria Vesga made it threw seven holes before she had to withdraw and go to the emergency room. She was picked up by her teammates, two of which were also battling the virus and the Lady Bears shot an even par 288 in round three to finish with a five over par 869 for the tournament. Arkansas finished in…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Despite having eight days off due to finishing finals, Baylor baseball showed no signs of rust against Prairie View A&M Tuesday night. The Bears scored runs in every inning, pounded out 17 hits as they routed the visiting Panthers 18-1 in seven innings to extend the nation’s longest winning streak to 11 straight. Baylor head coach Steve Rodriguez said he was pleased with his team’s approach Tuesday night and that began with a practice in the morning. “We had an early practice today just to try and get the guys out and moving [after…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor sophomore guard Natalie Chou is now looking for a new program to call home. Head coach Kim Mulkey announced that the Plano native has been granted a release and will transfer. Chou was a key role player in her freshman season for the Lady Bears as Baylor marched its way to the Elite Eight for the third straight season. Chou appeared in all 37 games, where she averaged just less than five points per contest. She was a sharpshooter for the Lady Bears off the bench, shooting 42 percent from distance, which was…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor softball capped off its regular season with a 2-0 shutout over Texas Sunday afternoon at Getterman Stadium. The Lady Bears managed just three hits, two of which coming from senior Jessie Scroggins, and scored twice in the fourth inning, although both runs were unearned. “Paige [von Sprecken] was spinning the ball a lot. She was getting our righties on her backdoor, but we did what we needed to do to get the win,” Scroggins said. “We got two runs across and were able to hold them for the rest of the game.” Junior…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor softball used a five-run fifth inning and then held off a late Longhorn rally in knocking off Texas 7-5 Saturday night. The Lady Bears clinched the series win and the three seed in next week’s Big 12 Conference Tournament. Baylor entered without a home run at home this season, but hit three against the Longhorns. Sophomore third baseman Goose McGlaun hit two while senior outfielder Jessie Scroggins hit her second home of the season. McGlaun hit her 13th home run of the season to lead off the second inning. Senior catcher Carlee Wallace…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor It’s hard to believe that having played just 13 games at Getterman Stadium this season, that Baylor softball is preparing for its final home series of the year. But that is the reality for the Lady Bears as they welcome the Texas Longhorns into town for a two-game set to close out the Big 12 regular season. Senior first baseman Shelby Friudenberg said that this weekend is crucial not only to keep the team’s momentum going, but also for potential postseason positioning. “They’re very important games. We’re going to try to finish out strong…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor The Baylor men’s tennis team won’t be the only ones heading to College Station to compete in the NCAA Championships. The men’s golf team punched their 21st straight NCAA Tournament appearance Wednesday afternoon, earning the No. 2 seed in the Bryan regional hosted by Texas A&M University. The three-day, 54-hole tournament will take place at the Traditions Club with the top five teams advancing as well as the low individual on a team that does not advance. Those five teams will then move onto the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship at the Karsen…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Both the Baylor men’s and women’s teams are headed back to the NCAA Championships. However, after both hosting in 2017, both squads will hit the road for their first two rounds of competition. The women’s team, which enters with a 17-13 record, makes its 14th straight in appearance in the NCAA Championships field and it marks the 15th time in 16 years that Baylor has it made it under head coach Joey Scrivano. “It never gets old hearing Baylor’s name called in the tournament, that’s what it’s all about,” Scrivano said. “The second half…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor men’s tennis saw its goal of winning the Big 12 Tournament championship fall one match shy Sunday afternoon in Austin. After upsetting the fourth-seeded Oklahoma State Cowboys on Friday and the top-seeded TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday, thanks to the heroic tiebreaker from freshman Matias Soto, the Bears fell to the second-seeded Texas Longhorns 4-2. Baylor head coach Matt Knoll said that Texas was just a little bit better than his team Sunday, especially during the big points. “For anyone that knows tennis, you can see that (Texas) is one of the best…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor baseball continued its recent successful run by sweeping Kansas State over the weekend and extending its winning streak to 10 straight. The Bears erupted offensively in the series, winning 18-0 Friday night, 16-3 on Saturday and 8-5 on Sunday. On Friday night, Baylor sophomore Cody Bradford pitched his second-straight complete game shutout, a first in program history as the Bears pounded out 24 hits in an 18-0 route of Kansas State. Bradford allowed nine hits and one walk while striking out eight Wildcats. Offensively, freshman shortstop Nik Loftin had four hits and drove…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor softball (33-14, 10-6) picked up its second straight conference sweep over the weekend. The Lady Bears picked up a 7-1 win on Friday, 4-3 win on Saturday and a 9-0 five inning win on Sunday to sweep Iowa State in Ames, Iowa. Junior Gia Rodoni (20-9) picked up two wins and a save in the series. On Friday, Baylor pounded out 14 hits en route to a 7-1 win over the Cyclones. Rodoni went the distance in the circle, allowing one run on six hits with one walk and nine strikeouts to get…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor For the Baylor acrobatics and tumbling team, winning has become quite the habit since head coach Felicia Mulkey arrived in Waco. On Saturday, the Bears once again proved they were the best in the land, claiming their fourth consecutive National Championship by toppling the third-seeded Quinnipiac Bobcats 283.360-274.650. Mulkey said the work and the labor for this title began immediately following last year’s championship—and now the fruits of that labor are on full display. “I’m just thrilled for these girls that put in all the hard work throughout the offseason and during the season…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor women’s tennis fell to top-seeded Texas 4-1 Saturday afternoon in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals in Austin. The Longhorns jumped out in front by claiming the doubles point. Senior Theresa Van Zyl and sophomore Jessica Hinojosa fell first on court one, 6-3 to sophomore Petra Granic and freshman Bojana Markovic. With the freshmen duo of Dominika Sujova and Giorgia Testa holding serve at 5-5 on court two, Texas’ sophomore sister duo of Anna and Bianca Turati finished sophomore Angie Shakhraichuk and freshman Kris Sorokolet 6-4 on court three, giving the Longhorns an early…
By Nathan Keil | Sports EditorBaylor men’s tennis kept its underdog run alive in the Big 12 Tournament Saturday afternoon in Austin. The fifth-seeded Bears upset the top-seeded TCU Horned Frogs 4-2, avenging a 4-1 loss on April 19 in Fort Worth to advance to Sunday’s championship round. The match opened with three competitive matches in doubles play. The freshmen duo of Sven Lah and Roy Smith started off strong for Baylor by claiming a 6-3 win on court two. But TCU responded as the fourth-ranked combo of senior Guillermo Nunez and junior Alex Rybakov edged junior Johannes Schretter and…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor men’s tennis continued the trend set by the women’s tennis team Friday morning. The Bears also avenged an earlier 4-3 loss to Oklahoma State on April 8, sweeping the Cowboys 4-0 to advance to the Big 12 Tournament semifinals and earn a rematch with the top-seeded TCU Horned Frogs. Baylor head coach Matt Knoll said that consistency across the board was huge for the Bears in getting the win over a good Oklahoma State team. “It was a big step in the right direction. We’ve just got to continue to build on it,”…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor women’s tennis evened the score against Kansas Friday morning in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals. After losing to the Jayhawks 4-1 back on March 12, the Lady Bears ousted them 4-2 to advance to the semifinal round and earn a date with top-seeded Texas. Baylor head coach Joey Scrivano said that his team was dialed in and much more focused more this time than when they played in Lawrence, Kan. earlier in the season. “I’m really proud of our team, they just competed really hard today. Their focus was way better than the…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Don’t let its 16-12 record fool you — the Baylor women’s tennis team is locked in and feeling good as it enters the Big 12 Tournament. Despite losing 4-0 to No. 5 Texas on April 20, the Lady Bears have won seven of their last nine matches and head coach Joey Scrivano said they are extremely confident heading into postseason play. “It’s always good to have momentum late in the season going into postseason, and I like the position we are right now. We’re playing well so we’re excited about the weekend,” Scrivano said.…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Last week, I finished re-watching one of my favorite TV shows of all-time, “Californication.” I’ve followed alongside the up and downs of writer Hank Moody as he battled written work, or lack there of, all while pining after the one that got away. Oh, and still trying to raise his daughter, Becca, who helps center both Hank and her mother Karen. But I watched the finale, knowing exactly what was going to happen– would Hank get on the plane? Forget New York, what about Los Angeles? I hope this doesn’t spoil it for you,…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor The top seeded and three-time defending national champion Baylor acrobatics and tumbling team opened its championship defense with a 277.535-260.905 victory over the eighth seeded-Converse Valkyries on Thursday night. The Bears won five of the six events in their quarterfinal match at the Hammermill Center on the campus of Gannon University in Erie, Pa. Baylor opened the meet by taking the compulsory event with a 38.15-34.225 victory over the Valkyries. The Bears continued to pad their lead by taking the acro event, 29.475-27.325. Converse responded by edging Baylor out in the pyramid event. The…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor women’s golf won’t have far to travel for its NCAA Tournament opening round. The Lady Bears earned the No. 9 seed and will stay in the Lone Star State, playing at the University of Texas Golf Club in Austin. This marks the sixth time in seven seasons under head coach Jay Goble that the Lady Bears have made the NCAA Tournament. Goble said that is a great opportunity to be able to stay close to home and that he hopes his team will continue the success it has had at this golf club.…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor softball (30-14) split a doubleheader with the University of Houston Tuesday night in Houston. In game one, Baylor won a thrilling pitcher’s duel 1-0 in nine innings. The Cougars bested the Lady Bears 4-3 in the nightcap. In the opener, junior Gia Rodoni went the first eight innings to get the win. She scattered three hits and two walks while striking out 10. Junior Regan Green pitched the ninth, allowing one hit to collect the save. Senior first baseman Shelby Friudenberg’s home run to lead off the ninth was the difference in the…
Story by Nathan Keil | Sports Editor, Video by Meredith Aldis | Broadcast Reporter Saturday was a day for the ages. It was a day where heroes were born; where champions were crowned and the ghosts of failure haunt all the rest. OK, so not really, but Saturday was certainly different. And different can be a good thing. As part of the Michael Johnson Invitational, the Baylor Lariat participated in the first ever All-Media 4×100 meter relay race. Our team consisted of myself, Rylee Seavers, a broadcast reporter, Penelope Shirey, design editor, and Rewon Shimray, cartoonist. For once, the shoe…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor senior outfielder Jessie Scroggins is headed to the next level. The two time All Big 12 defensive team member and reigning defensive player of the year was drafted in the third round with the 15th overall pick by the Chicago Bandits in the 2018 National Pro Fast Pitch draft. Scroggins said she was thrilled for the opportunity to compete at the next level. “Thank you to the Chicago Bandits for giving me an opportunity,” Scroggins said. “I’m excited to start off this next part of my career with such a great organization.” The…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor baseball completed a three-game series sweep over TCU by taking Saturday’s contest 6-2 and rallying for a 4-3 win on Sunday. Baylor has now won six straight and eight of its last nine games as the Bears look to make late season run toward a postseason birth. In Saturday’s 6-2 win, Baylor got a solid start from sophomore Hayden Kettler on the mound to follow up sophomore Cody Bradford’s masterpiece Friday night. Kettler went the first six innings, keeping the Horned Frogs off the scoreboard, while allowing five hits, a pair of walks…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor women’s tennis (16-12, 4-5) dropped its final regular season match Friday night. The 25th ranked Lady Bears fell 4-0 to No. 5 Texas (19-4, 9-0) in Austin. Baylor head coach Joey Scrivano said that Texas was every bit as good as advertised. “All the credit goes to Texas. They’ve played great all season and are having a lot of success,” Scrivano said. “Today, was a good opportunity for us to see where we’re at, and now we have to focus on preparing ourselves for what’s next at the Big 12 Championship.” The Longhorns…
Story by Nathan Keil | Sports Editor, Video by Elisabeth Tharp | Broadcast Reporter Baylor sophomore Cody Bradford was ready to step back into his Friday night role. After missing his Oklahoma start due to an injury and starting the last two weekends on Saturday against Texas and Memphis, Bradford was lights out in his return to the ace role. Looking to extend its three-game winning streak and make a second half run toward postseason play, Baylor turned to Bradford and he delivered with his best performance as a Bear. Bradford pitched a complete game, one-hit shutout against the Horned…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor No. 23 Baylor men’s tennis dropped its third straight Big 12 conference road match Thursday night in Fort Worth. The Bears fell behind early and couldn’t gain much ground in singles, falling 4-1 to No. 6 TCU. The Horned Frogs got to off a good start, grabbing the doubles point and put the Bears at an early deficit. The fifth-ranked TCU duo of senior Guillermo Nunez and junior Alex Rybakov took down the ninth-ranked duo of junior Johannes Schretter and redshirt junior Will Little 6-1 on court one. TCU then took the doubles point,…
