After four days off, a rested Chelsea Thomas is ready to return to the circle against Arkansas this weekend. And she better be.
The Missouri pitching situation remains dire. Thomas, the senior pitcher, must return to form after surrendering a career-worst 11 earned runs because coach Ehren Earleywine doesn’t have many options after her.
Once sophomore pitcher Bailey Erwin decided to transfer on March 4, senior Nicole Hudson became the only player other than Thomas with experience on the circle. Hudson has struggled somewhat, sporting a 7.27 ERA in 8 2/3 innings pitched in Southeastern Conference play.
“Let’s be honest, it is what it is,” Earleywine said of his confidence in Hudson. “She’s been propelled into a position she was not recruited for, so my confidence in her is decent in the situations that I put her in, which is going to be where we’re way ahead or way behind. So she’s going to fulfill that role and be the sacrificial lamb for the rest of the season just so we can keep Chelsea healthy and fresh.”
Hudson said she accepts her role, but when Earleywine reinserted Thomas after Hudson got into a jam in the seventh inning on Saturday, she wished she could’ve finished the game.
“I wanted to stay in and I always want to get that last out, but at that point, I knew that we could get a strikeout with Chelsea (Thomas), and all she had to do was go back in there,” Hudson said.
Earleywine pegged Thomas as the starter for Friday, but he said he wasn’t sure what the rotation would look like the rest of the weekend. With his confidence level in Hudson, Missouri fans will most likely see Thomas start all three games.
“I would love to be out there every game,” Thomas said. “Some series, I will be able to, being able to keep my pitch count lower, but it’s not up to me, I’m just going to follow coach’s plan.”
Though Thomas enjoys pitching every game, her pitching hand does not. She developed a blister on her finger early in the season, but the week off due to a rainout, along with medication, helped.
“I have this really awesome cream that is working wonders, so I’ve been resting it, I haven’t thrown until today (Thursday), so I got three solid days off of rest, so that’s helped a lot,” Thomas said.
Thomas deserved some rest. In the three-game series at Alabama last weekend, Thomas pitched 18 of 18 2/3 possible innings.
“It might have been a necessity this week,” Thomas said of the time off.
Arkansas comes into the series with a 4-7 record in the SEC, compared to Missouri’s mark of 8-3. That disparity could lead to the type of lead that makes Earleywine comfortable with placing Hudson in the circle.
But if the Razorbacks hang with the Tigers, then Thomas will stay in the circle. She’ll work long innings all weekend, because if Missouri plans on winning close games, there’s no other option.
