2012 Getterman/QTI Classic Feb. 10-11 | Waco, Texas | Getterman Stadium (1,230) TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
vs. Wichita St. Fri. | 3 p.m.		vs. Iowa Fri. | 5:30 p.m.		vs. Arkansas Sat. | 12;30 p.m.		vs. Belmont Sat. | 5:30 p.m.		vs. UT Arlington Sun. | 1 p.m.

The No. 7 Baylor softball team will open the 2012 season at home for the second-straight season, hosting the Getterman/QTI Classic on Feb. 10-12. The six-team tournament will be hosted at two locations, Getterman Stadium and Southwestern Region Little League Complex, and will feature 15 games.

"We are so excited to be able to open up at home," head coach Glenn Moore said. "The team has been going hard and is ready to face some tough competition. We hope the Baylor community will come out to enjoy and support some good softball."

The Lady Bears are coming off their historic run to close the 2011 season, advancing the semifinals of the Women's College World Series and finishing fourth in the nation.

BU returns 11 letterwinners off the 2011 squad, while welcoming eight newcomers. Seven starters return, including All-American pitcher Whitney Canion. In addition to Canion, three other players (Megan Turk, Kathy Shelton and Kayce Walker) who earned All-Big 12 honors return to the Green and Gold.

"I believe this 2012 team is hungry to make a name for itself," Moore said. "We have reminded them that this is a new group and that last year was last year. We have a target on our back based on how we finished, so I am eager to see how we respond."

Picked to finish fourth in the Big 12, the No. 7 national ranking is Baylor's highest preseason ranking in program history.

The Lady Bears will open play against Wichita State on Friday at 3 p.m. followed by a game against Iowa at 5:30 p.m. BU will face Arkansas at 12:30 p.m. Saturday and Belmont at 5:30 p.m. Baylor will wrap up tournament play against UTA on Sunday at 1 p.m., with that game being broadcast live on 1660 ESPN Central Texas. All games can be heard for free on www.baylorbears.com with Derek Smith and Alex Colyer calling all the action.

The Opponents:

Arkansas went 13-39 in last season, including 3-23 in the SEC. The Razorbacks return 12 players from the 2011 squad, while also adding 12 new faces.

Belmont is under the direction of former BU assistant Chris Kuhlmeyer, whose squad went 11-38 in 2011. The Bruins return six seniors and welcome five freshmen to the 2012 team.

Iowa went 27-24 in 2011, as Marla Looper enters her second season as head coach. The Hawkeyes return 10 players off last season's squad, while welcoming 10 newcomers.

UTA is coming off a 33-25 season, finishing second in the Southland Conference. The Mavericks return eight starters and 12 letterwinners, including four named to the Southland All-Conference teams.

Wichita State enters the 2012 season under new head coach Kristi Bredbenner after going 20-37 in 2011. The Shockers return 10 players and welcome seven newcomers to a team picked to finish eighth in the Missouri Valley.