Baylor softball’s Shelby McGlaun was named a Top 25 finalist for the Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award, announced Thursday by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
In the fourth year of the award recognizing the country’s top freshman student-athlete, McGlaun is Baylor’s second to make the Top 25 watch list.
Kyla Walker was named a finalist in her record-breaking 2016 freshman season, ending with a program-record .415 batting average.
McGlaun has been a crucial addition to the Baylor lineup, highlighting one of the top recruiting classes in program history.
“Goose” is the only player to land on the top-10 in the Big 12 this season in both hitting and pitching categories. The Humble, Texas, native is tied for third in home runs (8) and sixth in ERA (1.95).
McGlaun has started and played in all 42 games for the Lady Bears, using her versatility to play a number of positions on defense, start as the everyday designated player, and pitch valuable innings in the circle.
She leads BU in home runs, is second in RBI and slugging percentage, and rounds out the three-member pitching staff that all currently hold ERA under 2.00.
Seeing time at first base, pitcher, and left field on defense, McGlaun has kept a clean .983 fielding percentage.
On Thursday, May 11, the list will be trimmed down to the top 10 finalists, while the top three finalists will be selected and released on Wednesday, May 24. The trophy will be presented during a live ceremony on May 31.
The award was created in 2014 from an idea to honor outstanding athletic achievement among Division I freshmen softball student-athletes. In the inaugural year, Auburn’s Kasey Cooper and Tennessee’s Annie Aldrete, were co-winners. Oklahoma’s Paige Parker took home the honor in 2015 and Florida’s Amanda Lorenz captured the award in 2016.
