Junior pitcher adds option entering postseason

UL pitcher Macey Smith threw five no-hit innings against Texas State on Saturday.(Photo: Sun Belt Conference)

It wasn’t like she hadn’t pitched at all, nothing similar to her sophomore season when she didn’t hurl an inning.

Going into this past weekend’s Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Mobile, Alabama, UL junior right-hander Macey Smith had actually made nine appearances in the regular season, covering 19 innings.

Still, there was no way to predict what was about to happen.

It began innocently enough with two-thirds of an inning of work at the end of a 13-1 blowout win over Georgia State.

There was nothing “mop up” about what Smith achieved by the end of the weekend, though.

One batter into the Sun Belt Tournament finals, her “best friend” and roommate since arriving in Lafayette, Alex Stewart, was pulled and Smith got the ball.

In the biggest responsibility of her three-year college career to date, Smith came through beyond anyone’s expectations, delivering a no-hit, shutout performance with two walks and two strikeouts over five innings for the win.

Suddenly, this pitcher who wasn’t even on the official playing roster in last year’s Sun Belt Tournament had earned a spot in the All-Tournament team.

“I had no idea that was going to happen, but we go through scenarios like that all season long to prepare us for those kind of situations,” Smith said.

Although she may be relatively inexperienced during games, Smith has been in UL’s program for basically three full seasons now.

“I really feel like I would have had the same amount of joy and sense of accomplishment for winning the conference championship than if I hadn’t even pitched on the field,” Smith said. “I believe that because I know what this team has been through. I know all the obstacles we’ve overcome. What we did really symbolizes ‘us.’”

Even more special for Smith was the fact that she followed, and saved the day, for Stewart, like good roommates should. Since arriving together in 2014, the two have sort of been on a journey together.

As a freshman, Smith — a Houston native — threw 20.1 innings in appearances with a 6.54 ERA.

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UL pitcher Macey Smith, during her first career win earlier this season against Rutgers, came through big for the Cajuns in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. (Photo: SCOTT CLAUSE/THE ADVERTISER)

“When I first got here, I had to make the transformation to college-level pitching,” Smith said. “I really credit Coach Mike (Lotief) with bringing me along. To me, it was about getting more engaged and going back to the fundamentals.”

Stewart, from Zionsville, Indiana, meanwhile, threw 10.1 innings in four appearances with a 9.48 ERA.

Her big breakthrough moment came at Texas State last year on March 29 at Texas State. After pitching in relief to finish out a blowout win the day before, the little-used Stewart carried the Cajuns to the series win with a four-hit shutout with no walks and 11 strikeouts — much like what Smith pulled off Saturday in Mobile.

Then this season, Stewart has stepped into a new role as the staff ace.

“I’m so proud of her (Stewart),” Smith said. “She’s worked so hard. She just loves softball. I’m just so proud of what she’s become.”
So it was no surprise who the first teammate was that greeted Smith after the biggest performance of her career.

“She was the first one to hug me,” Smith said. “She was extremely happy and proud of me. It was a special moment.”

The weekend was a special time for Smith’s family as well.

“My mom is a nervous mom,” Smith said. “She wants the best for me. She said after the game, ‘I can finally breathe.’ My Dad doesn’t know a lot about softball, but he said ‘he had chills all over his body’ after the game.

“It was so sweet. I love them so much. They’ve sacrificed a lot for me. It was great to be with them for that moment.”

Now Smith puts her head down and is “back to trying to get better every day,” whether another big moment arises or not.

“She could have let it be a high-pressure situation in a championship game, and you see her showing her leadership out there and setting the tone in the circle,” UL associate head coach Chris Malveaux said.

In fact, Smith’s focus was so acute that she didn’t allow her mind to be distracted by all the illegal pitches being called that forced Lotief to replace Stewart to begin with.

“You have to go out and play your game,” Smith said. “You can’t worry about what’s happened before.”

Although Lotief said the original plan was to ride Stewart, last weekend may have altered those plans.

“What’s good about (Saturday) is if she struggles again (this week), maybe we’ve got a kid with some confidence (Smith) that can walk in there and give us a shot,” Lotief said. “You’re not gonna win in postseason with one arm. I kept saying that when (Trahan) went down. I got nervous, thinking about who’s going to be the other one to step up.

“We want to try to ride this (NCAA) tournament with one. Maybe the softball gods are beating a stubborn old man on the head, saying, ‘C’mon now, you’ve got to get another one ready.’”

LAFAYETTE REGIONAL

At Lamson Park

Friday’s Games

Game 1: Texas vs. Texas A&M, 3:30, ESPN2

Game 2: Boston vs. UL,

6 p.m., ESPNU

Saturday’s Games

Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 11 a.m.

Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 1:30

Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 4 p.m.

Sunday’s Games

Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 3:30 p.m. (and if necessary, 6 p.m.)