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Colgate University Athletics

Bailey Misken softball

Softball Omar Ricardo Aquije

Bailey Misken climbing up the record books

The senior has become a standout pitcher while excelling as a history major

After a dominant high school softball career, right-handed pitcher Bailey Misken '24 is continuing her success at Colgate, rising to fourth in   program history with 334 career strikeouts.
 
The senior from Murrieta, Calif., now ranks 10th all-time in wins at Colgate with 30. And Misken is not done moving up in the Colgate record books as she helps her team battle through its Patriot League competition. While plenty of softball still remains this spring, she plans to return in 2024 for a fifth and final season.

Misken is enjoying her best season since her breakout freshman year, when she exploded onto the scene, going 7-3 with a 1.02 ERA and 71 strikeouts. 

The hard-throwing righty said she's thrilled for the opportunity to play softball at Colgate.

"I adore playing softball here," she said. "I love our team dynamic. I love every single aspect about Colgate Softball. It's very rewarding when we win a very tough game. That high that you feel after winning, it makes it so worth it."

In the clubhouse, she's known as a fierce and resilient competitor who battles through any challenge on the mound, and pushes herself and her teammates to be better. It has drawn accolades from everyone in a maroon and white uniform.

"What has impressed me the most about Bailey as a pitcher is her competitiveness and toughness in the circle," said outfielder Steph Jacoby '23. "Over the past four years, she has always worked so hard to perfect her craft and she takes a lot of pride in her ability to perform as a pitcher.
 
Misken has become the nucleus of the pitching staff through hard work and determination.


"The constant diligence and dedication have certainly paid off. Regardless of whether we are winning or losing, or whether it's snowing or a perfectly sunny day, she remains unfazed and gives her best performance. Everyone on the team has such trust in her when she is given the ball, especially in the big moments of the game."

Even when Misken is not pitching, she finds other ways to help the team from the bench, Jacoby said.

"She's always involved in the game and willing to do whatever it takes to win," Jacoby said.

Head Softball Coach Marissa Lamison-Myers praised Misken for leading the pitching staff and having the determination to keep improving. 

"Since arriving on campus, Bailey has been the nucleus of our pitching staff," Lamison-Myers said. "She has stepped up in big moments and continues to in her senior year. Making her way up the strikeout record book she pushes herself each day to be better. Bailey has also been a great leader this year within our pitching and catching staff."

When Misken is not at a game, she's busy with her schoolwork. During the softball season, the history major — along with her teammates — uses any opportunity to study, whether it's on the bus or waiting for a plane. 

Maximizing her time has been crucial. But another important part to juggling softball and academics is the support from her professors, who have been accommodating by providing notes when she's away for games. She's also relied on classmates to help her stay up-to-date with her schoolwork. 

"It's definitely hard at times," she said of balancing softball and schoolwork. "If we're in the hotel after a game, or if we have time before the game, my team is very good at time management and making sure we get our schoolwork done. While we're at softball, everything is about softball. But afterward, we focus on our school work."

After beginning her Colgate experience as a psychology major, she switched to history and is grateful for making the move. Aside from loving the subject, the program has made her a well-rounded student.

"As I've gotten older, I've become a better writer and test taker and studier, and I attribute that to my professors and all the classes I've taken here," Misken said.

Civil rights and women's rights are among her favorite history subjects. Wishing to pursue law school after Colgate, she has worked closely with her advisor, Prof. Telisha Bailey, on preparing for the entry exam.

Misken played softball in high school and for a traveling team that went against the best in the nation. In 2019, she finished with a 22-2 record with 222 strikeouts and 11 shutouts. 

For her stellar season, she was named the Gatorade State High School Player of the Year, which is given to the nation's most outstanding high school student-athletes. 

She grew up idolizing Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw, and uses his walk-up song — "We are Young" by Fun — when she pitches for Colgate. As a child, she spent long hours in the backyard practicing with her dad, Ken Misken, a baseball fanatic and lifelong Dodgers fan.

He would become an enormous part of her success as a pitcher.

"He is my No. 1 coach when I'm home," she said. "He's my pitching coach. Over winter breaks, we practice all the time. He has helped me become the pitcher I am today. I don't think I'd be here if it wasn't for him."

When it was time to start thinking about college, she looked at programs in the Patriot League. 

She originally committed to Bucknell, where Lamison-Myers worked as an assistant coach. But when Lamison-Myers was hired at Colgate, Misken followed her to Hamilton, N.Y.

Misken had previously visited Colgate and was excited about playing for the Raiders under Lamison-Myers' tutelage. 

"I always liked Colgate," she said. "But I really liked Marissa as a coach when she was at Bucknell. When she got the opportunity to be the coach here, I knew I had to take it because Colgate is such a high academic school, and the campus is beautiful and the community is amazing."
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Players Mentioned

Steph Jacoby

#13 Steph Jacoby

OF
5' 6"
Senior
Bailey Misken

#25 Bailey Misken

P
5' 7"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Steph Jacoby

#13 Steph Jacoby

5' 6"
Senior
OF
Bailey Misken

#25 Bailey Misken

5' 7"
Senior
P