Kira Baker Earns National and Conference Pitcher of the Week Honors

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – Compiling another stellar weekend that saw her post three shutouts at the Gulf Coast Invitational in Gulf Shores, Ala., Kira Baker of the Wildcats softball team was tabbed both NAIA's and Heart of America's Pitcher of the Week.

The freshman from Eudora, Kan. continued a blazing start to her debut season, going a perfect 4-0 and totaling 54 strikeouts while allowing just one lone run at the three-day tournament. After having her 28.1 scoreless inning streak snapped in the first inning of BU's weekend opener against Central Baptist on Friday, the lefty Baker bounced back and didn't allow a run the rest of the tournament, tossing 23 consecutive innings of scoreless ball.

After receiving her first conference player of the week nod after recording a perfect game against St. Mary of the Woods (Feb. 19), Baker tallied a one-hitter in BU's 10-0 win versus Morningside on Saturday and had double-digit strikeouts in all four of the games she started in Gulf Shores.

In her first season as a Wildcat, Baker (9-0) has allowed just one run in 52.1 innings and has already amassed 110 strikeouts to lead a BU softball squad that has won 13 of 15 games to start its 2023 campaign, including top-25 wins over No. 3 Science & Arts, No. 12 William Carey and No. 16 Columbia.

The Wildcats will host their home opener on Wednesday, March 8 with a doubleheader against Kansas Wesleyan slated to start at 2 p.m. at Cavaness Field in Baldwin City, Kan.

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