April 25, 2002

WACO, Texas - Baylor's 22nd-ranked softball team is ranked fourth in the biweekly Midwest Regional rankings, released Thursday by the NCAA. The Lady Bears (45-14, 10-6) are one of seven Big 12 Conference teams represented in the 10-team poll.

Thursday's poll is the first in which teams are ranked; the first two NCAA regional rankings of each season simply list the top 10 teams from each region alphabetically.

The top four spots in the Midwest Regional rankings reflect the top four spots in the Big 12 standings heading into the final weekend of the regular season. Texas is ranked first, followed by Oklahoma, Nebraska and Baylor. Texas A&M follows at No. 5, then Louisiana-Lafayette, Oklahoma State, Florida International, Illinois State and Kansas.

Baylor, which moved up one spot to No. 22 in this week's USA Today/NFCA Top 25, is chasing its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in softball. BU can finish no lower than fourth in the Big 12 standings with an outside shot at finishing third.

The Lady Bears conclude their regular season schedule this weekend, hosting No. 12 Oklahoma for a two-game set at Getterman Stadium. Baylor and OU play Saturday at 2 p.m. CDT and Sunday at 1 p.m. Seniors Kristen Lancaster and Holly Fields will be honored prior to Sunday's game.