From the moment LSU sophomore pitcher Baylee Corbello stepped into the circle at Tiger Park, she was at home.
In her first two seasons at LSU, Corbello has done it all, from aweing the Tiger faithful with double-digit strikeout performances in her first two career starts in 2014, to pitching a gem when the then top-ranked Tigers needed one to avoid a sweep against Kentucky this season.
After carrying the load for the Tigers in 2014, Corbello made the transition from an ace to a leader of a talented but inexperienced rotation in her sophomore campaign.
“She’s well wise beyond her years due to the experience she’s had,” said senior center fielder A.J. Andrews. “It’s only helping her. Just like a teacher, if you are trying to teach somebody, it helps you learn the material. She is really embracing that. She’s helping the other pitchers, so it’s helping her evolve more as a pitcher.”
In the Tigers’ up-and-down 2014 season, Corbello was a constant.
She led the rotation with 24 complete games, 199 and one-third innings pitched, six shutouts, 188 strikeouts and 19 wins. Her 24 complete games set a program record for an LSU freshman while her strikeout mark was second all-time for a first-year LSU pitcher.
Throughout the season, Corbello showed an ability to shut down ranked opponents, notching five wins against top-20 teams. Her victory in Game 2 against No. 2 Tennessee on April 5, 2014, sealed the Tigers’ series win.
Despite her success, the Lake Charles, Louisiana, native struggled with walks throughout her first season, tallying a rotation-leading 153 free passes.
Corbello said the walk issue stemmed from the pressure she put on herself to be perfect. In her sophomore campaign, Corbello aimed to be more efficient in the circle and to let her defense work behind her.
Corbello’s different approach combined with a capable rotation of pitchers behind her has translated into success in the circle for Corbello and company in 2015.
This season, Corbello has cut down her free passes drastically. She is tied for the fifth-fewest walks in the Southeastern Conference with 20.
Although Corbello leads the rotation with a .180 opposing batting average, another pitcher tops every other statistical category, taking the pressure off Corbello to carry the Tigers on her own. All four of the Tiger’s pitchers rank in the top-10 in the SEC in ERA and top-15 in opposing batting average in the conference.
Collectively, LSU’s rotation has been dominant this season. As a pitching staff, the Tigers lead the league with 31 complete games and are tied for first with 16 shutouts while placing second in the SEC in ERA with 1.66, 313 strikeouts and 73 walks.
“[Corbello] has a different mentality now that we have a whole pitching staff that can go in and do well,” said sophomore pitcher Kelsee Selman. “She’s just more relaxed and just focused on quality pitches, instead of trying to do it all by herself.”
Corbello’s experience and perspective have transformed her from an occasionally nervous pitcher to one whose calm, confident presence puts her teammates at ease and establishes her as a leader in the bullpen.
Junior catcher Kellsi Kloss has seen this change firsthand after catching Corbello for nearly two full seasons and establishing a close relationship with her.
Corbello’s calm nature is evident in the way Kloss approaches any quick in-game trips to the circle.
“If I need to go talk to her, I just go out there and tell her a joke or make her laugh or something,” Kloss said. “She’s not one that I really need to get up in her face. She’s more of a ‘Hey, let’s do this. Take a breath. Relax and here we go.’ … It’s a breath of fresh air for me, knowing that I don’t have expect a lot of stress from her.”
As the most battle-tested pitcher in the rotation, Corbello has become the leader of the young rotation that features two freshman along with Selman.
Since freshman pitcher Allie Walljasper arrived in Baton Rouge from California, Corbello has helped her adjust to Louisiana and the University.
“Since I’ve got here, she’s been helping me with everything — not just with softball, but with school and how to get around here, just everything,” Walljasper said. “Baylee was always the first one to help me if something was going wrong or if I would get frustrated, she would always cheer me up.”
Although she has stepped up to lead, Corbello has learned something from each of her fellow pitchers and incorporated it into her approach to the game. From Selman’s faith to freshman Carley Hoover’s resilient mentality in the circle, Corbello said every pitcher brings something different that inspires her to be better.
Despite her success carrying the Tigers in 2014, Corbello has grown in her sophomore campaign by relaxing in the circle and realizing she doesn’t have to do it all.
“The only pressure you have is what you put on yourself,” Corbello said. “Just go out there and realize it’s not a one-woman show. Just go out there and realize that you have twenty other people behind you. They’re on the mound pitching with you. You feel like you have everyone behind you.”
You can reach Morgan Prewitt on Twitter @kmprewitt_TDR.