This story was originally published with The Red & Black on April 10, 2015 and can be found here.

Appearing on an episode of SportsCenter is an accomplishment all athletes fantasize about. Making the show as part of its “Not Top 10” segment, however, is a different story.

Bulldogs starting pitcher Chelsea Wilkinson knows the feeling of falling into the second category.

The junior from Taylorsville, North Carolina appeared on the April 3 edition of the long-running ESPN program after what occurred to end Georgia’s game against the Tennessee Volunteers on March 30.

“My brother texted me and put the little laughing face [emoticons],” Wilkinson said. “He was like, ‘You made the Not Top 10.’ I watched it myself on the TV when SportsCenter came on.”

Wilkinson had no notion that she would face Tennessee in the third and final matchup between the two teams in Knoxville last week.

After seven innings of no-run softball for both teams, starter Brittany Gray worked into a tough situation by giving up a double and a walk. With absolutely no wiggle room on either side, Bulldogs head coach Lu Harris-Champer went to her bench and her veteran right-hander.

And the move almost worked.

Wilkinson battled with Tennessee third baseman Scarlet McSwain and reached an 0-2 count. With two outs, it looked as if Wilkinson was destined to escape and keep Georgia in a dogfight with one of the best Southeastern Conference teams.

But then it happened.

“When I slid my front foot over as I went to drive off the mound, it hooked my shoelace,” Wilkinson said.

The lace’s snag resulted in Wilkinson falling in the middle of her pitching motion, causing her to crash to the ground. It also resulted in a balk call from the home umpire, allowing the game-winning run to cross for Tennessee.

The bizarre end initially left Wilkinson in an emotional state.

“Obviously, I was upset,” Wilkinson said. “We lost because it caused a runner to come home, and that was the hardest thing.”

A heart to heart with her mother Tandra soon after gave Wilkinson a much-needed glimpse at the big picture of life.

“I had a long talk with my mom after because it was really hard,” the younger Wilkinson said. “She just reminded me that we do this as something to bring joy to our life. It’s not a life-or-death situation.”

The slip-up was also not enough to overshadow Wilkinson’s solid season for the Bulldogs. Wilkinson has led the way for Georgia on the mound and ranks first in a number of different statistical categories, including complete games, strikeouts and innings pitched. She also ranks third in the SEC with 17 victories this season.

With her head clear again and her intent set on coming back strong, Wilkinson took the only viable option she had after the play: She came back to the pitching circle.

Her first game after the troublesome ending in Tennessee was a start on April 3 against Missouri. Wilkinson had a decent-but-forgettable outing against the Tigers, allowing four earned runs and nine baserunners in a 5-2 defeat.

But she came back stronger two days later.

With another shot at taming the Tigers, Wilkinson shined. After a rocky first inning, Wilkinson worked through the Tigers lineup with an ease that helped her garner recognition as one of the Southeastern Conference’s best pitchers. She left the game in line for the win after working 4.1 innings and allowing only one hit.

The success against a top-25 team in Missouri helped push what had happened just six days earlier much further out of focus.

“It felt good, not just because I fell, but just because having great outings means I’m putting my team in the best position to win,” Wilkinson said. “That’s my, Brittany or any pitcher’s job is to allow our team the best opportunity to win.”

Wilkinson’s determination in moving on to the next challenge made an impression on freshman teammate Brittany Gray, who has made it a point to take in any advice that her fellow pitcher has to offer.

“Her coming back as strong as she did was crazy how she did it,” Gray said. “That was a tough way to lose a game, but the way she came back was amazing. I’m so proud of her for that.”

“She’s a great kid and she laughed it off,” Georgia head coach Lu Harris-Champer said. “She was ticked that she wasn’t No. 1 on the Not So Top 10 (sic). You got to smile, have a good attitude about it, and move forward.”

Wilkinson is quick to point towards her personal strategy against Missouri on Easter as an example of her readiness to move past what happened.

“It was easy because every game is a new game,” Wilkinson said. “And we tucked in my shoelaces.”

A game plan like that leaves no room for another spot on SportsCenter.