By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor The winds were swirling all around the track on May 6, 1954, in Oxford, England. The conditions were less than ideal, but Sir Roger Bannister was not going to let the weather prevent him from making history. Bannister walked toward the starting line at Iffley Road cinder track. As he prepared for the challenge of defying the impossible and braced for the moment he had been waiting for his entire life, Bannister had only one thing on his mind: break the four-minute mile barrier. 3:58.08 minutes later, Bannister collapsed in the arms of his…
Author: Nathan Keil
By Nathan Keil | Sports EditorBaylor softball capped off a perfect 5-0 performance in the Liberty Spring Classic Saturday morning. The Bears used a dramatic five-run seventh inning rally to knock off Delaware 5-3 in their opener. Then in game two, it was a career day for senior outfielder Jessie Scroggins and sophomore second baseman Nicky Dawson, as the two combined for eight hits. Junior Gia Rodoni limited the Flames to just three hits as Baylor knocked off host Liberty 9-0 in six innings. During game one against Delaware, Baylor was shutout and limited to just four hits as it…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor softball swept its Saturday doubleheader in the Liberty Spring Classic. The Bears beat Ohio University of the Mid-American Conference 12-3 in the opener and then beat the University of Delaware 15-5 in game two. Baylor used a six run fourth and a five run sixth inning to erase a 3-1 deficit and easily defeat Ohio University 12-3 in six innings. The Bears pounded out 13 hits and were the beneficiary of some sloppy play from the Bobcats in the field, scoring seven unearned runs against Ohio sophomore starter Kendall Meeks. Senior outfielder Jessie…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor softball opened the Liberty Spring Classic with an 8-3 win over host Liberty Thursday afternoon in Lynchburg, Va. The Bears got three runs in the second and third innings to gain control of the game while pounding out 10 hits against the Flames’ ace, junior Julia DiMartino (8-4). Sophomore outfielder Maddison Kettler led the attack, notching three hits, including two doubles, drove in a run and scored twice. Sophomore shortstop Taylor Ellis added two hits and drove in two runs. Liberty took an early 1-0 lead when sophomore second baseman Amber Bishop tripled…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor baseball won its second straight game Tuesday night, knocking off UT-Arlington 9-1 at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Bears erased a 1-0 deficit with a six-run fifth inning and cemented the victory with three more in the eighth inning. Baylor pounded out 17 hits and every starter had at least one hit. Freshman infielder Nick Loftin led the way with three hits while junior outfielder Richie Cunningham had two hits and drove in three runs and sophomore first baseman Andy Thomas had two hits and two RBIs. The offensive explosion helped get…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor No. 12 Baylor softball (12-3) boosted its resume with a big 5-2 win over No. 21 Long Beach State (16-5) Tuesday afternoon in the final game of its west coast swing. The Bears greeted the 49ers, who were playing their first home game after 20 on the road or neutral sites to begin the year with steady pitching from junior Gia Rodoni and the big bats of senior first baseman Shelby Friudenberg and sophomore designated player Goose McGlaun. Both McGlaun and Friudenberg finished with two hits apiece and were responsible for driving in all…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor For the second straight day, Baylor softball split its doubleheader at the Judi Garman Classic. The Bears fell 3-1 to Iowa in their opener before riding a strong performance from junior Gia Rodoni in a 1-0 win over No. 17 Louisiana-Lafayette in game two. Baylor was unable to continue the offense it displayed when it rallied for seven runs in the final three innings against Charlotte on Saturday. The Bears were limited to one run on eight hits as they fell to Iowa 3-1 on Sunday morning. Sophomore Goose McGlaun (2-1) took the loss…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor No. 8 Baylor softball spit a pair of games Saturday afternoon in the Judi Garman Classic. In its opener, No. 2 Florida stymied the Baylor offense, no-hitting them in a 4-0 win. In the afternoon, Baylor erased a 1-0 deficit to beat Charlotte 7-1. In the opener, the 2017 national runner-up Gators rode a strong performance from its ace junior Kelly Barnhill and got one inning of relief from senior Aleshia Ocasio as the two combined to toss a no-hitter with 16 strikeouts against the Bears. Barnhill struck out 13, but walked five in…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor baseball dropped its opening game of the Frisco Baseball Classic 8-2 to the Cal Golden Bears Friday afternoon at Dr. Pepper Ballpark. Cal used a five run second inning to break the game open against Baylor sophomore lefty Cody Bradford and despite getting a pair of runs in the fourth and fifth innings, the Bears never really threatened. After two excellent starts from Bradford to open the year, Cal was able to get to him early and often. Bradford (1-1) lasted just 4 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits with four…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor No. 8 Baylor softball was able to weather two rain delays in its opening round game of the Judi Garman Classic. But the Bears were unable to weather No. 25 Michigan. The Wolverines used the long ball to beat Baylor 6-3, giving the Bears their first loss of the season. After moving up the start game from 12 p.m. to 9:30 a.m. in hopes to avoid the rain, the front moved in early and the game was delayed until 11:15 a.m. With a runner on base and one out in the fourth for Baylor,…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor In 2017, Baylor softball headed west to Fullerton, Calif., for the Judi Garman Classic 14-3, without garnering much national attention. The Bears finished the tournament 4-1 with wins over ranked opponents — Arizona State, Michigan, Washington and UCLA. This year, the narrative is in reverse. Baylor enters their West Coast trip 9-0, ranked eighth in the country and with two wins over ranked opponents, No. 23 McNeese State and No. 11 Alabama. Despite those two wins, head coach Glenn Moore said he knows this tournament will be a large step up in competition and…
By Nathan Keil | Sports EditorComedian Jimmy Kimmel will host the 90th Academy Awards Sunday night at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Calif. The late night talk show host returns for his second go-round, after hosting the Academy Awards in 2017, the one infamously known for the “La La Land” and “Moonlight” Best Picture debacle. But Sunday night is not about Kimmel rectifying the mishap of the swapped envelopes — It’s about celebrating achievements in film over the past year and honoring those who have contributed to the film industry with their hard work, dedication and ceaseless commitment to the…
Story by Nathan Keil | Sports Editor, Video by Elisabeth Tharp | Broadcast Reporter After honoring its three student managers and five seniors—forwards Jonathan Davis, Terry Maston, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr, Nuni Omot and guard Manu Lecomte, Baylor was determined to end their Ferrell Center careers on a high note. The obstacle in its path was National Player of the Year candidate, freshman guard Trae Young and the Oklahoma Sooners. Young torched the Bears to the tune of 44 points and nine assists in a 98-96 loss on Jan. 30. But this round belonged to Baylor and its seniors from start…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor The challenge review system in NCAA volleyball is getting a minor makeover during the 2018 season.The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel voted Feb. 22 to approve a change that would combine in/out and touch calls into one reviewable challenge.During the first two years of the review system, in/out and touch calls have been the two most reviewed plays in the sport, as well as separate challenges. Since they have been separate, some calls have not been able to be overturned because a challenge has fallen under one or the other.Baylor head coach Ryan McGuyre…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor women’s tennis split a pair of weekend matches out west, falling 4-3 to No. 17 Oregon in Eugene, Ore. before knocking off No. 32 Washington 4-1 in Seattle on Sunday. In Friday’s loss, the Ducks went in front by grabbing the doubles point first by grabbing 6-4 victories from the top two spots. Oregon then grabbed the early advantage in the singles circuit before sophomore Angelina Shakhraichuk got Baylor on the board from the third spot with a 6-3, 6-1 win. The Ducks secured a win from the No. 1 singles position for…
By Nathan Keil | Sports EditorAfter a late inning rally Friday night by the Bruins, Baylor returned the favor on Saturday. The Bears trailed 6-4 heading to the seventh before scoring one run in the seventh and eighth innings before sophomore catcher Shea Langeliers’ first home run of the season in the ninth lifted Baylor to an 8-6 win over No. 12 UCLA at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Baylor used relievers sophomore Ryan Lekich and senior Drew Robertson to get the Bears out of a bases loaded, one out jam in the eighth inning, setting up Langeliers’ home run in the…
By Nathan Keil | Sports EditorThe Baylor pitching staff struggled to find the strike zone all game long as the Bears dropped the opener of a three-game set with No. 11 UCLA 5-2 Friday night at Jackie Robinson Field. The Bears issued 10 free passes to the Bruins, but it was the ninth and 10th that finally dug Baylor’s grave. Clinging to a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning, it was sophomore Jacob Ashkinos who put the Bruins in business, issuing a pair of walks to open the frame. Baylor then turned to redshirt junior right-hander Collin Sharp as it…
By Nathan Keil | Sports EditorCentral Texas weather is having a major affect on Baylor athletics this week. Baylor softball announced Wednesday afternoon that it has cancelled its upcoming Baylor Invitational Tournament. The decision was made due to the current amount of rain and with more rain in the forecast for this weekend. The Lady Bears have reached an agreement to play a doubleheader with Abilene Christian on Sunday. The first game will begin at 1 p.m with the second one to follow 30 minutes after. This is the second time this week that the Baylor softball team has had…
Story by Nathan Keil | Sports Editor, Video by Branson Hardcastle | Broadcast Reporter No. 20 West Virginia raced out to a fast start and put the Bears in an early hole they couldn’t recover from. The Mountaineers led by as many as 28 and survived a second half Baylor rally and a flurry of whistles as they snapped Baylor’s six-game winning streak 71-60 Tuesday night. West Virginia was whistled for 26 fouls and had one player fouled out, with three others accumulating four fouls. Baylor was whistled for 20 fouls and one Bear was disqualified. West Virginia head coach…
Story by Nathan Keil | Sports Editor, Video by Elisabeth Tharp | Broadcast Reporter No. 3 Baylor entered its I-35 road trip game with No. 6 Texas separated by just three spots in the most recent AP Poll. But on the court, the Lady Bears once again proved why they are still the team to beat in the Big 12 conference. Baylor showed its balance and inside-out attack with a career-high 24 points from senior forward Dekeiya Cohen and 23 points from senior guard Kristy Wallace. Junior center Kalani Brown added 17 points and 12 rebounds and sophomore forward Lauren…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor With runners on second and third and one out in the seventh inning, junior Gia Rodoni came through for Baylor softball. After allowing back-to-back singles with one out, giving the Crimson Tide the tying run 60 feet away and the go-ahead run at second, Rodoni struck out the next hitter and induced a weak popup to shortstop to preserve a 2-1 win over No. 9 Alabama Sunday afternoon. Rodoni allowed one run on four hits with two walks and eight strikeouts, but was consistently her best when she need it most. Rodoni allowed leadoff…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor softball picked up two more victories in the Black and Gold Invitational on Saturday. The Lady Bears exploded late in a 14-1, five inning win over Mississippi Valley State and scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning to earn a 3-2 win over host Southern Mississippi Saturday night. Sophomore Goose McGlaun earned her second victory of the season in the opener, tossing three innings, allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts. Junior Regan Green got the start against the Golden Eagles, going the first four, allowing two runs on three…
Story by Nathan Keil | Sports Editor, Video by Elisabeth Tharp | Broadcast Reporter The Baylor defense was suffocating when head coach Scott Drew needed it the most. The Bears came up with the three biggest stops of the season with the game on the line. First, while trailing 57-56 lead, redshirt freshman forward Mark Vital came up with a block on the Texas Tech three-point attempt from the corner forcing a shot clock violation. Following a Baylor turnover, the Bears then forced a tough, contested three from freshman guard Jarrett Culver that clanked the back iron. Baylor senior forward…
By Nathan Keil | Sports EditorNo. 10 Baylor softball opened the Black and Gold Invitational with a 7-1 victory over No. 24 McNeese State Friday afternoon in Hattiesburg, Miss. Junior pitcher Gia Rodoni followed up her five-inning no-hitter last Friday with a complete game, four-hitter against the Cowgirls. Rodoni struck out eight, walked two and gave up one run –– a solo home run to sophomore centerfielder Brenique Wright in the bottom of the second inning. McNeese State managed hits in the first, sixth and seventh, but never really threatened Rodoni and the Lady Bears beyond the Wright’s long ball.…
By Nathan Keil | Sports EditorIn October 2017 the NBA announced a new format for its All-Star game and the way it selects its participants. The process remained mostly the same with 12 players from each conference being chosen by a combination of fan, player and media votes. The leading receivers of votes at each position in both the Eastern and Western conferences were selected as the starters.However, in a new twist, the top vote receivers from each conference, LeBron James from the Eastern Conference and Stephen Curry from the Western Conference, served as captains and selected their teams from…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor After a sweep last weekend over Northwestern State at Getterman Stadium, the road gets a lot more difficult for Baylor softball. The Lady Bears travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., for four games in three days as part of the Black and Gold Invitational hosted by Southern Mississippi. This is the first of 11 road trips that Baylor will make this season, so the Lady Bears will have to get used to travelling and playing away from Getterman Stadium. However, the heavy travel isn’t deterring the team’s mindset, according to sophomore pitcher Goose McGlaun. “We’re excited…
By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor Baylor men’s tennis looks to build off its 2-0 weekend as the Bears travel to Seattle this weekend for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Indoor Championships. The Bears defeated Purdue 5-2 and South Florida 4-0 over the weekend, creating some momentum that head coach Matt Knoll hopes will carry over. “It’s hard to get better without playing,” Knoll said. “Tennis is a competition sport, so we need to get out and play as many matches as we can. Two great matches, we got to play a lot of tennis and it gives us great…
By Nathan Keil | Sports EditorPlaying in cold, windy conditions, Baylor softball completed a doubleheader sweep of Northwestern State Saturday afternoon at Getterman Stadium. The Lady Bears pounded out 12 hits in an 8-4 win in the opener behind three hits from senior center fielder Jessie Scroggins and the strong pitching debut of junior Mississippi State transfer Regan Green in the circle. In the second, it was timely, situational hitting and a strong performance from sophomore pitcher Goose McGlaun in the circle as the Lady Bears finished off the day with a 4-1 victory. Moore said that in difficult conditions,…
Story by Nathan Keil | Sports Editor, Video by Elisabeth Tharp | Broadcast Reporter The last time junior pitcher Gia Rodoni took the mound for the Lady Bears at Getterman Stadium, she completed her second no-hitter in three days, lifting Baylor to a Super Regionals rematch with Arizona. As part of the NCAA Waco Regional, Rodoni struck out three in a 1-0 win over Kent State and two in a 1-0 win over James Madison. On Friday night, she picked up right where she left off. The Los Banos, Calif. native tossed her third straight no-hitter at home, striking…
Burda talks football season and Matt Rhule.