Kira Baker Tabbed NAIA First Team All-American

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Baker softball freshman pitcher Kira Baker was selected as a 2023 NAIA First Team All-American as the NAIA released its postseason awards on Wednesday.

Becoming the second BU softball player to earn All-America recognition, Baker joins former Wildcats hurler Olivia Brees who received the honor in back-to-back seasons in 2018 and 2019.

As a freshman from Eudora, Kan., Baker earned a spot on the prestigious first team list after finishing the season with a record of 24-3 in the circle, racking up 19 complete games and two saves. In her 176 innings pitched, Baker tallied 314 total strikeouts which ranked third in the entire country and amassed an ERA of 0.64 which ranked second in the country.

With 19 complete games, Baker threw six no-hitters and two perfect games on her way to being named the Heart of America Freshman of the Year and earning First Team All-Conference honors.

On Tuesday, Baker was selected to the NFCA's NAIA All-America Team as she received first team laurels from the organization. She was one of three Wildcats to receive All-Region V honors from the NFCA last week, joining teammates Savannah Bray and Skylar Gorrell.

Baker helped lead a Wildcats squad that tied the program record in wins at 47, going 47-12 on the year and making the team's first appearance in the NAIA World Series in school history.

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