Author: Nathan Keil

Story by by Nathan Keil | Sports Editor, Video by Elisabeth Tharp | Broadcast Reporter Baylor men’s tennis picked up its first conference win of the season Saturday night at the Hurd Tennis Center, shutting out the visiting Red Raiders 4-0. Baylor head coach Matt Knoll said he just wanted to see his team improve against the Red Raiders—and that’s exactly what he saw. “It’s always about getting better. We really hadn’t played that well. We didn’t think we did a lot of things well (last weekend). We really wanted to focus on improving (tonight), and I think we did…

By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor women’s basketball senior guard Kristy Wallace joined Lady Bear royalty Thursday night. Wallace became the 14th player in program history to be selected in the WNBA draft. Wallace was the 16th pick overall and went to the Atlanta Dream. “It’s a really exciting time,” Wallace said. “I’ve worked so hard to get to this moment and for it to happen is so awesome. I can’t wait to show them my game and learn from other professionals in the league. It’s so surreal that this happened.” Wallace, who became the program’s first ever second-round…

By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor outside hitter Yossiana Pressley’s remarkable year continues. Pressley, who was the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, a unanimous First Team all Big 12 member and an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Honorable Mention All-American selection, just earned a spot on the 2018 U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team-Detroit roster. Pressley earned her spot after participating in the U.S. Women’s National Team Tryouts March 2-4 at the U.S. Olympic Training center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Pressley said she was excited to be selected and hopes that this opportunity will continue to develop her game.…

By Nathan Keil | Sports EditorBaylor softball (25-10, 3-3) will have very little turnaround from its 7-3 home loss to McNeese State Wednesday afternoon. The Lady Bears once again prepare to hit the road for a three-game series with Oklahoma State (29-12, 7-2). One emphasis will be on the team’s energy level heading into the series, as senior catcher Carlee Wallace said that was a key issue in the loss Wednesday night. “I just think that is due to no energy throughout the dugout, no energy coming and I’ll take the fall for that as the catcher and the leader…

By Nathan Keil | Sports EditorThe Baylor acrobatics and tumbling team achieved its first goal Sunday night — finish the regular season undefeated. The Bears saved their best performance for last, tallying a season-high score to knock off the fourth-ranked Oregon Ducks 286.750-284.285 for a second time this season, this time at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore. Baylor head coach Felicia Mulkey said she was pleased with her team’s effort and their ability to deal with adversity. “This was a hard-fought win for us and I’m very proud of how the girls stuck with it. It wasn’t our cleanest…

By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Livia Kraus may be a freshman, but on the court, she plays like anything but one. The Austria native has made herself right at home as one of the top players in the Lady Bears’ rotation, contributing a team-high 21 wins in singles this season as well as inserting herself as a staple in the doubles rotation. Head coach Joey Scrivano said it is Kraus’ professionalism and her attention to detail that has helped her breed so much success in her freshman season. “Livia is an incredibly hard worker. She’s not afraid to pay…

By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor men’s tennis struggled in its opening weekend of conference play. The Bears dropped a 4-2 decision against No. 16 Oklahoma on Friday and a 4-3 decision at No. 14 Oklahoma State on Sunday. On Friday, the Sooners jumped ahead early in doubles by collecting a 6-0 win on court one. However, the Bears responded with freshmen duo of Sven Lah and Roy Smith taking a 6-2 victory on court three. Sophomore Constantin Frantzen and freshman Akos Kotorman secured the doubles point for Baylor with a 6-2 set win on court two, giving the…

By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor It’s been more than a year since former Baylor standout forward Nina Davis put on her Lady Bears jersey. From the moment she got to Baylor’s campus in 2013, Davis made an instant impact for the Lady Bears, tallying a career record of 134-15 while making four straight trips to the NCAA Tournament’s second weekend, falling one game shy of the Final Four each time. Davis, who had a knack for scoring, averaged 16.3 points per game over her Baylor career and took a backseat in her senior season for the emergence of center…

By Nathan Keil | Sports EditorBaylor senior centerfielder Jessie Scroggins is no stranger to opposing Big 12 offenses. The reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year has been flashing her glove and unleashing her arm for nearly three and a half seasons with the green and gold. Scroggins patrols the outfield grass with great speed, chasing down fly balls in both outfield gaps. She’s even been known to rob a home run or two. But her arm is just as good as her glove, catching runners who make a wide turn around base and throwing in behind them for…

By Nathan Keil | Sports EditorThe calendar has now flipped from March to April, and college basketball season is officially over. But as sports fans, we shouldn’t be too sad about it coming to an end. The MLB season just started last week and the NBA playoffs are right around the corner. The Masters begins on Thursday and the Kentucky Derby is less than a month away. And for those who cannot get enough of their football, the NFL Draft is just a few weeks down the road. But as we say goodbye to college basketball until November, let’s celebrate…

Story by Nathan Keil | Sports Editor, Video by Meredith Aldis | Broadcast Reporter Looking to take the final game of a lopsided series, Baylor junior Gia Rodoni had laser-focus in the circle. Rodoni allowed just four hits against the high-powered Sooners’ offense, while striking out four. But No. 2 Oklahoma (31-2, 6-0) was a bit too powerful, a bit too clutch and still too dominant in the circle, as the Sooners swept a three-game series from Baylor by taking Saturday’s finale 4-1. The win extends Oklahoma’s winning streak to 22-straight games. Baylor head coach Glenn Moore said that his…

By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor With fresh faces in the circle, junior Regan Green for Baylor matching up with Oklahoma sophomore Mariah Lopez, the Lady Bears were hoping to erase the memory of their 5-0 Friday loss to the Sooners and even the series. Instead, Lopez was even more dominant as the combination of her and senior lefty Paige Lowary combined to no hit the Lady Bears in a 9-0 five-inning game, marking the first time since a 9-1 loss to Louisiana-Lafayette on May 17, 2015 since they have been run-ruled. It was also the first time since an…

By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Oklahoma senior pitcher Paige Parker was as good as advertised Thursday night. The All-American shut down the Big 12’s leading offense, limiting the Lady Bears to just two hits as No. 2 Oklahoma extended its winning streak to 20-games with a 5-0 shutout in game one of an Easter weekend series. Baylor head coach Glenn Moore said Oklahoma played perfect softball and that his team did their best to counter that performance. “ I thought we fought today. We were going to defend our home turf, and they were just that good tonight,” Moore…

By Nathan Keil | Sports EditorBaylor softball has spent much of its spring season playing away from home. The Lady Bears have played just five of their first 26 games at Getterman Stadium, making it difficult to catch a glimpse of them this season. As Baylor opens conference play against second-ranked and two-time defending national champion Oklahoma this weekend, there won’t be an empty seat in the stadium. Senior outfielder Jessie Scroggins, who leads the team with a .545 average, said that playing the Sooners is always one of the most exciting matchups of the season and getting to do…

By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor women’s tennis picked up a top ten win Tuesday afternoon. The Lady Bears knocked off No. 9 Northwestern 5-2 at the Hawkins Indoor Tennis Center. Head coach Joey Scrivano said his team came out prepared and worked hard to get the top ten win. “It was a great team win. I’m really proud of our team, they played hard start to finish and Top 10 wins are not easy to come by,” Scrivano said. The Wildcats came out and grabbed the early lead on the Lady Bears by taking the doubles point. Sophomore…

By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor softball head coach Glenn Moore has won more than 800 games on the field in his career, 700 since he arrived in Waco 18 years ago. However, while the team was in California participating in the Judi Garman Classic, Moore and the Baylor softball team experienced its greatest victory yet — the baptism of senior catcher Carlee Wallace. “Coaching softball is my calling, to spread the Gospel in whatever way this platform allows me to,” Moore said. “It’s a huge victory to see her come to Christ and claim a greater victory than…

By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor softball (19-6) dropped both games of its Saturday doubleheader in the LSU Round Robin Tournament in Baton Rouge, La. In the opener, the Bears fell 3-1 to BYU behind a pair of fifth inning home runs to the Cougars. In game two, LSU also used the home run ball to defeat the Bears, hitting a two-run home run in the fifth, a tying one in the seventh and a walk-off two-run bomb in the seventh to get the 5-3 win. In game one, BYU emerged victorious behind a strong performance from the Cougars’…

By Nathan Keil | Sports EditorLEXINGTON, KY. — The Baylor Lady Bears’ final record during the 2017-2018 season was 33-2. Thirty-three wins and just two losses. The losses, few and far between, with a 30-game winning streak sandwiched in the middle. It was a season that many programs across the country would love to have. The Lady Bears ran the table in the Big 12 conference. They followed it up by winning three games in three days to hoist another Big 12 conference tournament championship. The season included dominant home victories over Kentucky and Stanford. It featured sweeps of Oklahoma,…

By Nathan Keil | Sports EditorLEXINGTON, KY.- Baylor knew that if it was going to advance to the Elite Eight for the fifth straight season, the Lady Bears would need to defend Oregon State along the three-point line. After 20 minutes of play, all was going according to plan. Despite trailing for a majority of the first half, the Lady Bears had limited Oregon State to just three of 10 from beyond the arc. And after a tough, gritty offensive rebound and put-back by freshman forward Didi Richards, Baylor held a 31-29 lead. But Oregon State began to find its…

By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Playing on the road is nothing new for Baylor softball. The Lady Bears (18-4) have had just five games at Getterman Stadium this season, partially due to the nature of their schedule and partially due to weather cancellations. Baylor head coach Glenn Moore said playing at home the last two weeks has been beneficial in helping his team recover physically, as the Lady Bears hit the road for one final non-conference weekend tournament. “Having the weekend off was good and bad,” Moore said. “We were able to recover and especially after a long spring…

By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor women’s basketball finds itself in familiar territory as it gears up for its Sweet 16 matchup with No. 6 Oregon State. The Lady Bears have advanced to the Sweet 16 for 10 straight years and 13 times under head coach Kim Mulkey. But despite the tournament success and Baylor’s consistent berth heading into the second weekend of the tournament, the Lady Bears have historically fallen short of their goal of the Final Four, losing in the Elite Eight for the last three years. Sophomore forward Lauren Cox said the team celebrates every win,…

By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor baseball picked up its second midweek win of the season, knocking off Dallas Baptist 5-2 at Horner Ballpark. The Bears picked up the win by committee with senior Alex Phillips, who threw both games against the Patriots in 2017, getting the start and tossing two innings, allowing just one hit and one walk with four strikeouts. Phillips then gave way to sophomore Jacob Ashkinos, who allowed just one hit with three walks in four innings while striking out a career-high nine batters. Junior Kyle Hill then tossed a scoreless seventh and eighth, before…

By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor We’ve all been there before – we watch intently as the entire season hangs in the balance and then comes crashing to the ground as the underdog sinks the game winner as time expires. The truth is that the nature of the NCAA Tournament is cruel. We watch hours of basketball, follow our favorite teams through their ups and downs of the season, hoping they will be the lucky ones cutting down the nets in early April – and in the blink of an eye, 40 minutes is done, and their season is over.…

By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor The second-seeded Lady Bears battled a much stiffer competition from Michigan than they saw Friday night against Grambling State in their opener during the 2018 Women’s NCAA tournament. The Wolverines managed to keep it close for the first half before Baylor used a 15-2 run in the third to turn a three-point lead into a 59-44 advantage. The Lady Bears ramped up the defensive intensity and suffocated Michigan in the second half en route to an 80-58 win, earning a trip to the Sweet Sixteen for the 10th time under head coach Kim Mulkey.…

By Nathan Keil | Sports EditorBaylor women’s tennis split a pair of weekend matches at the BNP Paribas Collegiate Challenge over the weekend in Indian Wells, Calif. On Friday, the Lady Bears found themselves matched up with the fourth-ranked Pepperdine Waves and fell to the defending West Coast Conference champions from Malibu 5-0. The Waves took the doubles point by taking victories on courts one and three, 6-4 and 6-2 for an early 1-0 lead. Pepperdine then took singles victories, beginning with a 6-1, 6-1 win on court two, followed by a 6-2, 6-2 win on court five, 6-1, 6-3…

By Nathan Keil | Sports EditorHeading into Baylor baseball’s Big 12 opener, sophomore pitcher Cody Bradford said he was ready for the challenge of dealing with the eighth ranked Red Raiders and their potent offense. On Friday night, Bradford took his game to a new level and shut down No. 8 Texas Tech. Bradford tossed 8 2/3 innings, scattering six hits and shutting out the Red Raiders 2-0 to take the opener of a three game series. He also walked two and struck out seven. Bradford was pulled after a two-out single put runners on first and second, giving way…

Story by Nathan Keil | Sports Editor, Video by Elisabeth Tharp | Broadcast Reporter Opening the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years without a No.1 next to their names, the second-seeded Lady Bears made a statement early and often, easily disposing of No. 15 Grambling State 96-46 to advance to Sunday’s second round. Baylor overwhelmed the visiting Lady Tigers with its length and size in the post and its athleticism and ability to defend on the perimeter. Six feet-four-inch sophomore post Lauren Cox and six-feet-seven-inch junior center Kalani Brown were simply too much for a smaller Grambling…

By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor When No. 2 Baylor meets No. 15 Grambling State at 6:30 p.m. tonight, it will bring a close to a 12-day layoff since the last time the Lady Bears took to the court. Head coach Kim Mulkey said rest has been beneficial for the Lady Bears because the Big 12 Tournament pushed them to their physical limits. “It’s beneficial to all teams, but especially when you’re limited in numbers like we are,” Mulkey said. “Having only eight players that can play, these two big girls [junior center Kalani Brown and sophomore post Lauren Cox]…

Story by Nathan Keil | Sports Editor, Video by Elisabeth Tharp | Broadcast Reporter No. 22 Sam Houston State used a four-run eighth inning and limited the Baylor offense to just two hits as the Bearkats snapped the Bears’ five-game winning streak Tuesday night with a 7-2 win at Baylor Ballpark. Junior infielder Chase Cryer led the Bearkats with three hits in four at bats, with a double and two RBI. Fellow junior infielder Andrew Fregia was two for five at the plate and junior outfielder Josh Biles hit a solo home run in his lone at bat. For Sam…

Story by Nathan Keil | Sports Editor, Video by Elisabeth Tharp | Broadcast Reporter Monday evening in the Ferrell Center’s Stone Room was all business for Baylor women’s basketball. The Lady Bears gathered with friends, family and the Baylor community to find out where their road toward the Final Four begins. Baylor, which posted a 31-1 record, claimed both the Big 12 regular season and conference tournament championship and was looking to nab a top seed for the third straight season. The Lady Bears were rewarded the No. 2 seed in the Lexington, Ky., region. Connecticut claimed the No. 1…