May 10, 2006

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The No. 19 Baylor softball team placed six players on the first team Academic All-Big 12 Conference squad the conference office announced Wednesday. Harmony Schwethelm (Sr., Health Science Studies) and Kelly Osburn (Sr., Health Science Studies) led the way for Baylor on the squad, earning their third consecutive first-team academic all-conference selection.

Tessa Lynam (Sr., Health Science Studies), Kylie Conroy (Jr., Biology) and Chelsi Lake (Jr., Political Science) each earned their second consecutive selection to the academic all-conference squad as senior Sarah Hausner (Sr., Telecommunications) was named to the academic all-conference squad for the first time of her career.

Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and media relations offices, the softball academic all-league squad consisted of 43 first team members combined with 16 on the second team. First team members include those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, and the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify student-athletes must record a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters. All players nominated must have participated in 60 percent of her team's scheduled contests, while pitchers are required to have at least one inning pitched per game played by the team or have appeared in 35 percent of their team's total games.

Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.

Third-seeded Baylor will open the Big 12 Championships on Thursday, May 11, at 11:00 a.m. when the Lady Bears face sixth-seeded Kansas in action at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.