Date: 1/30
Position: Pitchers and Catchers

Returning Letterwinners (Key stats): Devin Brown, Jr. (19-7, 1.51 ERA, 181.1 IP, 3 SV, 21 CG, 12 SHO, 194 Ks, .184 opp. avg), Dayla Gulledge, Jr. (18-6 GP-GS, .208 avg, 5 hits, 4 runs, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 11 TB, .458 slg %). Morgan Lutticken, So. (11-6 GS-GP, .261 avg, 6 hits, 1 run, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1.000 fld%), Bailey Murphy, So. (0-0, 7.88 ERA, 2.2 inn, 3 APP), Taylor Stevens (11 GP, 3 runs)

Letterwinners lost (Key stats): Destin Vicknair (14-11, 2.69 ERA, 28 APP, 27 GS, 16 CG, 3 SHO, 156.1 inn, 86 Ks), Chandler Sparkman (2-2, 4.50 ERA, 12 APP, 3 GS, 1 CG, 32.2 inn, 20 Ks), Aly Smith (55-53 GP-GS, .162 avg, 17 hits, 5 runs, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 26 TB, .985 fld%)

Newcomers (Yr., Previous school): Alexis Reid (Jr., Kansas University), Megan Dudenhefer (Fr., LSU-Eunice), Lyric Cabral (Fr., Carl Albert High School), Baylie Thornhill (Fr., St. Joseph's), Kamdyn Kvistad (Fr., Columbia High School)

Miscellaneous Notes
- Since the 2012 season, South Alabama has ranked as one of the top pitching staffs in the Sun Belt, ranking in the top three each of those seasons in earned run average, opponent's batting average, strikeouts, hits allowed and runs allowed.
- Senior RHP Devin Brown enters the 2018 season looking to close out her collegiate career atop many individual marks as she ranks first at South Alabama in most career strikeouts per seven innings (9.71), second in lowest career opponent's batting average (.174), career strikeouts (701) and career shutouts (26), while she is third in career complete games (52) and career innings pitched (505.1).  
- Last season, Brown was a first-team all-league selection for the second consecutive season and ranked second in the Sun Belt in earned run average (1.51) and strikeouts (194), while her .184 opposing batting average was lowest in the league.  She led the SBC in fewest runs allowed (44) and her 39 earned runs allowed were the second fewest in the conference.  Brown also ranked among the NCAA leaders in fewest hits allowed (28th), ERA (30th), strikeouts (34th) and strikeouts per seven innings (44th).  Her 12 shutouts were fourth-most in the NCAA and also set a new single-season program mark.  
- Brown also moved past former Jag All-American and current South pitching coach Hannah Campbell for second place on the program's all-time strikeout list and she became just the second pitcher to eclipse the 700-strikeout mark.  Entering the season, Brown is just 34 strike outs behind former Jag Beth Pilgrim for the program's all-time mark.  She was a three-time Community Coffee Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week winner last season, as well as a preseason all-SBC selection and named to two preseason All-American teams.
- Kansas transfer Alexis Reid is another quality arm for the staff where as the No. 1 pitcher for the Jayhawks, she recorded 14 wins, 121 strikeouts, 22 complete games and five shutouts.
- As a freshman during the 2016 season, Reid was named to the inaugural all-Big 12 Freshman Team and recorded her first-career victory at eventual national champion Oklahoma, which was KU's first win in Norman in over 20 years.
- South Alabama has just one player on the 2018 roster with Division-I starts behind the plate.  Sophomore Morgan Lutticken made two starts behind the plate last season as a true freshman.
- In addition to Lutticken, vying for time at the catcher position are juniors Dayla Gulledge and Taylor Stevens and freshmen Lyric Cabral and Kamdyn Kvistad.
- Both Cabral and Megan Dudenhefer joined the program at the start of the spring semester.  Cabral signed with the Jaguars during the fall and graduated high school early, while Dudenhefer transferred to USA after playing this past fall at LSU-Eunice.

Head Coach Becky Clark
-On what Devin Brown needs to do to take the next step nationally:  "I think for Devin this year it is all about consistency.  I thought last year she was up and down some.  It didn't help that she got sick halfway through the season and was out for an extended period of time.  To her credit she made a huge commitment to the weight room this summer and I think that is going to help her tremendously from a consistency standpoint.  I am excited for her this year.  She knows how to pitch and has so much big game experience.  For her it is just about going out and competing every pitch."

-On her philosophy of pitching and the success of her staffs in the past: "Obviously, you have to have strong pitching to win at this level and we have been blessed to have some really good ones wear our uniform.  I think we do a good job in two areas and that is identifying talent and developing talent.  I feel like we do that in all areas though, not just on the pitching side.  I think it is imperative to have talent on the mound, but you also have to have pitchers who are willing to work together and support each other.  The days of one pitcher carrying the load are over.  Hitters have gotten so good and there is so much video and scouting material that you really have to have a full staff and they have to work together and complement each other.  I think this year we have a well-rounded staff who are willing to work together and compete as a staff not just as individuals."

-On the addition of Alexis Reid: "[Lex] brings a long list of positives and will play a major role in our success this year.  She has all of the intangibles.  She competes, works hard, and is a good teammate.  She brings a professional approach to the field and wants to be a player her coaches and teammates can count on.  She also comes in with two years of pitching experience in a very competitive conference so I do not anticipate there being a big adjustment period for her.  With her experience, I expect her to be prepared to step on the mound and compete immediately."

-On where she saw Alexis Reid get better this fall: "We have talked timing and spin with her a lot and I think those areas have taken a step forward. For her it is about trusting her pitches and allowing the ball to work. If you are on time and spin the ball then the rest takes care of itself. Lex is a pitcher who likes to throw a lot and gets better the more she throws. She has been working hard to make the transition to new coaches and teammates and I think the more we go live in practice the more she will continue to settle in."

-On how Bailey Murphy, Baylie Thornhill and Meghan Dudenhefer have looked during the spring and what strengths do they bring to your pitching staff: "Murphy has worked incredibly hard and has taken a step forward this fall and spring.  She is more consistent and I think is throwing with more confidence.  Thornhill has gotten more consistent as well and her velocity is picking up. If she continues to work I think she has the potential to be a real factor for us down the road.  Dudenhefer has done a great job in my opinion of making the transition.  It is hard to transfer at the break and come into a team that is already established but she has done a great job.  I anticipate her being able to step in and help us immediately."

-On the catchers this spring and expectations of the group: "We have a lot of talent behind the plate and I expect them to be able to step in immediately and compete.  They each have their own individual strengths and my job will be putting them in positions where they can utilize those and be successful.  Catching is a tough position and requires a tremendous amount of mental as well as the physical.  The more we go live the more they have a chance to learn their pitchers and get comfortable."

Senior Devin Brown
-On where she feels that she can still improve as a pitcher: "There a plenty of places.  I've been doing a lot of work on my drop ball and 'spot' work.  I've also been working on mixing all of my pitches."

-On what the career milestones she is within reach of means to her and if she saw herself as being such a good pitcher when her collegiate career began: "I literally had no idea that I was close in a bunch of those categories.  For me, it's not really about the milestones, rather it's about the experience and getting to be with all of these amazing people.  I never really saw myself doing what I've done when I came here; I didn't know what I was walking into to be honest."

-On the experience of pitching against the Women's National Team this past summer and what she took away from that: "It was an amazing experience.  I was able to meet lots of incredible people.  I don't feel that I was ready from a pitching standpoint, because I was going through some major form changes, but the experience of meeting all of those people was worth it."

-On the youth behind the plate: "All of our catchers are extremely talented.  While they do lack some experience at this level, I do think that they will pick things up really fast.  It's been an adjustment for them, but I feel that they've made that adjustment really well, so I don't anticipate that there will be any issues behind the plate."

-On the addition of Alexis Reid to the pitching staff means to the group and how she has helped make her a better pitcher: "Alexis is amazing at the drop ball, so that has been really helpful for me.  She's just an amazing person and I love having her around.  I love the opportunity to work with someone that's as talented as she is.  Her addition gives us added depth.  She compliments my pitching style very well and I feel that we are going to work really well together this season."
 
-On where she has seen Bailey Murphy make the most improvement since last season and how the freshman can help the rest of the staff: "Bailey has made a lot of improvement in her 'live' pitching, and I can really see her getting better in the circle.  I'm really hoping that she'll be able to come out and contribute for us this season.  Both of our freshmen coming in are very talented and I'm hoping that throughout the next few years they will be able to carry this program after we leave."

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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