Actually, Baalman has been a Warrior much longer than that.
The SIUE junior turned in another start Saturday, but the Eastern Illinois Panthers ended the Cougars’ season with a 2-0 victory in the championship game of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament in Oxford, Alabama.
Baalman, a Telegraph Player of the Year as a prep star with the Calhoun Warriors, was named to the all-tourney team along with SIUE teammates Paige Rocha and Lexi King. Baalman started the tournament by throwing a no-hitter against Morehead State and went 4-1 with a 1.11 ERA in Oxford.
“Sydney Baalman threw outstanding the entire tournament and kept us in every game while she was in the circle,” Sorden said.
The Cougars’ push to a runner-up finish in the OVC Tourney included victories that eliminated No. 1 seed Southeast Missouri, No. 3 Southern Indiana and No. 4 UT Martin. But fifth-seeded SIUE could not take out No. 2 Eastern Illinois at Choccolocco Park.
The Panthers, who advance to the NCAA Tournament with a 34-19 record, scored single runs in both the third and fourth inning. And with tourney MVP Olivia Price pitching a two-hitter for EIU, the Cougars could not rally.
Price struck out six and walked none in seven innings. Baalman also went the distance, giving two runs on four hits, two walks and three strikeouts. Baalman pitched in five of the Cougars’ six tourney games and did not allow more than two runs in a game.
Micah Arps and Sherri Mason had the hits for SIUE. Rocha and King, hitting in the Nos. 1-2 slots of the Cougars’ lineup, both went 0 for 3 to close a big tourney and a big season.
Rocha batted .500 (11 for 22) over the six games at Alabama and led the Cougars with a .416 average and 30 RBIs in 55 games. “Paige Rocha did a great job at the plate all tournament,” Sorden said, “setting the tone for our offense and played a solid shortstop.”
King matched Rocha for the team lead in RBIs at 30 and hit .393. King and Rocha were the only Cougars to hit better than .300 this season. King had three doubles and six RBIs in the tourney with a .411 average.
“Lexi is one of the most competitive players I have ever coached,” Sorden said. “She anchors our outfield and had several diving catches this week. At the plate, she’s a constant force. On the bases, she pressures defenses.”
SIUE finishes 30-26 with Baalman leading Cougars pitching with a 17-9 record and 2.17 ERA from 154 2/3 innings. In her last 15 appearances since April 14, she posted a 1.73 ERA from 73 innings. Baalman led the OVC in wins and shutouts (seven), was third in innings and strikeouts (101) and fourth in ERA.