Throwing a perfect game is hard. Throwing a no-hitter is just as hard. Doing it in your first career collegiate start? That is near impossible.
But that is exactly what happened when freshman Hailey Nutter took the mound against Loyola-Chicago.
The freshman threw a no-hitter in her first-career start Saturday afternoon, striking out 14 batters en route to a 7-0 shutout win. But she was this close to a perfect game.
So close to perfection
Nutter allowed only one base runner in the no-hitter, and it wasn't even her fault. An error by the Wildcat infield spoiled the perfect game. Most freshmen would rattle after that. Nutter didn't care.
The next batter grounded into an inning-ending double play to close the book on the inning and keep the no-hitter intact.
Nutter struck out 14 batters along the way to the no-no, marking the most strikeouts in a single game for a Kentucky pitcher since 2024 and the first no-hitter since 2023.
To be so close to a perfect game and then see it disappear because of an error is hard to take. But you also have to keep going. As impressive as she was, the poise to come right back and get a double play is why Nutter is special.
Baseball is sport that is played in the mind as much as it is on the field. To see that mentality from a freshman indicates special things could be in store for this team.
What's next
The Cats sit at 4-1 after the opening weekend tournament. They'll be back on the diamond tomorrow as they head to UC Santa Barbara to stay out west.
The bad news? Kentucky will not have their home opener until February 27th.
We have to wait a while to see this in person, but if Nutter keeps pitching like this, it will be worth the wait.