Kira Baker Named TUCCI/NFCA Freshman of the Year

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – Kira Baker of the Baker softball team was recognized as the 2023 TUCCI/NFCA NAIA Freshman of the Year, the organization announced on Thursday.

Baker continues to add to her postseason haul after earning First Team All-American honors from both the NFCA and NAIA earlier this week. She was also one of three Wildcats to receive All-Region V honors from the NFCA last week, joining teammates Savannah Bray and Skylar Gorrell.

As a freshman from Eudora, Kan., Baker finished 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.

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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