Baalman Returns, Pitches UK into Regional Final
Grace Baalman had to sit and watch as Kentucky opened the postseason at the SEC Tournament.
When she finally stepped into the circle Saturday in the NCAA Tournament, Baalman wasn’t about to squander her opportunity.
Still dealing with a sore throwing arm that prevented her from pitching last weekend, Baalman drew the starting assignment against Virginia Tech in a winners’ bracket game in the Lexington Regional. All she did was toss a complete game against the ACC regular-season champion Hokies to carry the No. 14 seed Wildcats to an 8-1 victory.
“I thought Grace did a great job on the mound,” Rachel Lawson said. “When we had people on base, she did a nice job of coming up with some quality pitches and then our defense again held strong.”
Baalman held Virginia Tech’s potent offense – fifth in the NCAA in both runs per game and slugging entering Saturday – in check. In fact, the Hokies scored fewer than two runs for just the sixth time all season against her.
Facing a lineup the quality of Virginia Tech and with Baalman not having pitched in two weeks, Lawson knew better than to assume anything. That’s why she had UK’s entire pitching staff ready even after finally naming Baalman the starter a couple hours before first pitch. They just weren’t needed.
“Grace is an artist, so you really don’t know what you’re going to get from day to day,” Lawson said. “I knew she had been feeling good, but the thing about her soreness is she really hasn’t had a hard bullpen since the last time she was out.”
She showed no ill effects.
Baalman’s task evolved over the course of the afternoon. Over the first three-and-a-half innings, she was locked in a pitchers’ duel with ACC Pitcher of the Year Carrie Eberle. Tech, meanwhile, scratched out five hits in that time to create constant traffic on the base paths, but Baalman relied on a steady approach and quality defense to avert damage.
“Just not to worry about giving up a hit,” Baalman said. “Just go after the next batter, try to spin it, try to get them to fly out, ground. Just keep working and try not to get in my head that, hey, they got a hit. It’s OK. Just go at the next batter.”
That was Baalman’s approach all the way until the fourth and fifth innings, when UK plated seven runs total to give Baalman a comfortable lead. She adjusted accordingly.
“You could really go out and attack hitters then,” Baalman said. “We got a big lead, so just go out and attack hitters. We’re playing for outs, so it really helps me attack the zone and not think about them hitting the long ball because the long ball is only one run.”
A single solo home run proved to be the only damage Virginia Tech managed, sending Baalman to the recovery room and UK to the regional final.
“We’ll see how it feels tomorrow, but I’m hopeful that it will feel good tomorrow and I’ll be ready to help our team,” Baalman said.
UK now has the luxury of sitting back and awaiting the team that survives a pair of elimination games featuring Virginia Tech, Illinois and Toledo Saturday afternoon and evening. The Cats will return to action Sunday at noon playing for a third straight super-regional appearance.
“Our staff will watch the next couple games and then the players will get to relax,” Lawson said. “And then we’re going to come out tomorrow, give them the game plan in the morning like we always do and just take it in stride.”
