Hailey Nutter SEC Freshman of the Week

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Before the season started Kentucky softball coach Rachel Lawson predicted that freshman pitcher Hailey Nutter of Texas could be a major contributor this season.

“She was a national championship winner at the youth level and we are counting on her to be a major contributor,” Lawson said on WPBK-FM.

Well, she’s started the season as more than a major contributor. She’s been DOMINANT on the mount and was named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week Monday.

In her first collegiate start, she threw a seven-inning no-hitter with 14 strikeouts — the most for a Kentucky pitcher in a single game since 2023 — in a win over Loyola of Chicago.  Her next start the following day she gave up only two hits in a five-inning, 8-0 win over Minnesota and did not give up her first collegiate hits until she had thrown 10 2/3 hitless innings.

She had no walks and struck out 22 batters to start her Kentucky career.

I talked to Nutter last summer and have to admit it was one of the most interesting interviews I have ever done.

I found out Nutter had played every position, including catcher, during her softball career. She also had tried cheerleading, dance, jazz, tap, ballet, and gymnastics before settling on softball.

If that’s not enough, she loved to go “mudding” when she was younger before a friend “accidentally” ran over her.

Nutter was so good that her travel team played two games on national TV, including one on ESPN. Her fastball hit 69 miles per hour during a summer tourney in Colorado. She said then her most consistent pitches, other than the fastball, were her curve, backdoor curve, and rise ball.

“It has always been my dream to play in the SEC. I always just wanted to go big,” she said.

So far, she’s gone very, very big for Kentucky.