For the first time in program history the Baker University softball team has qualified for the NAIA National Championship Opening Round and former Jeff West Tiger, Olivia Brees has helped guide the Baker Wildcats to the tourney appearance. 

Baker sits at 40-14 on the season and currently ranked #25 in the Nation and are set to play in the Blowing Green Bracket in the opening round of the NAIA National Championship tournament with three other teams May 14th-16th in Blowing Green, Kentucky. Baker will be joined by Marian (Ind.), Corban (Ore.) and Midway (KY) and will play Corban first at 11:00am on May 14th in a double elimination four-team tourney with the winner moving to the NAIA World Series. 

Brees who is her junior season with the Baker softball team has put together a record breaking season for the Wildcats as she as a single season record for wins with 28 and broke her own school record for strikeouts in a season with 312 this year. The former Jeff West Tiger leads the nation in strikeouts this season, second in wins and sixth in opponents' batting average (.168) and total innings pitched (208.1). She also ranks 13th in the nation in ERA with a 1.18 ERA this season. The junior also has issued only 38 walks on the season and has three saves for the Wildcats. 

In her three years at Baker she has compiled a 64-29 record with a 1.65 ERA appearing in 110 games with 78 starts and 64 complete games throwing nearly 600 innings, recording 834 strikeouts. Brees also plays on the Baker volleyball team and recorded 192 kills this past season and led the team in blocks with 156 helping the Wildcat volleyball team finish 13-19 on the year. In her three seasons on the volleyball court she has 530 kills, 116 digs and 378 blocks. 

Brees and the Wildcats look to continue their season which already is the winningest year in Baker history with 40 wins as they look to make some noise in the NAIA postseason.