Leading up to the start of the 2024 South Alabama softball season, we will preview all the position groups on the Jaguar roster.

The four-part series examines each position group ahead of the season-opening tournament, the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla. This installment looks at South Alabama's pitchers.

RETURNING STARTERS (1)
- Olivia Lackie (Sr., 6-0, RHP) – Finished the season with a 21-6 record and two saves, while posting a 1.52 earned run average and 214 strikeouts, keeping opponents to a .186 batting average

OTHER RETURNING PLAYERS (1)
- Madison Lagle (So., 6-0, LHP) – Was 1-0 in two starts, with an earned run average of 2.90 and seven strikeouts

NEWCOMERS (3)
- Ryley Harrison (Fr., 6-0, RHP) – Finished with a 55-6 record in the circle, an 0.80 earned run average, 24 shut outs, seven no hitters, four perfect games, and struck out 626 batters during time at Fairhope, while holding opponents to a .139 batting average
- Tori Miller (Jr., 5-9, RHP) – Spent one season at Coastal Carolina and posted a 5.53 earned run average in 6.1 innings of work
- Cadence Williams (Fr., 6-0, RHP) – Finished with a 7-3 record with three shutouts and struck out 112 batters in 64.1 innings in the circle as a junior

LETTERWINNERS LOST (2)
- Jenna Hardy (6-0, RHP) – (14-5, 1.47 ERA, 24 App, 119.0 IP, 102 SO)
- Kaitlyn Hughes (5-8, LHP) – (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 App, 1.0 IP, 1 SO)

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
-The Jaguar pitching staff ranks as of the top in the nation in 2023 as it was tied for seventh with two other teams in shutouts (19), tied for eighth in earned run average (1.63), 11th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.97) and tied for 16th in strikeouts (361)
- Lackie became the first pitcher in program history to be selected as the SBC Pitcher of the Year last spring and she was named the league's pitcher of the week six times, which were single-season program record and tied for fourth-most in a season by a Sun Belt pitcher
- Lackie set both the single-season (12) and career (31) marks for shutouts at South Alabama in 2023, and ranked among the NCAA leaders in shutouts (second) with 12, just one shy of the top honor in the category, while also ranking among leaders in strikeouts (17th), wins (t23rd), ERA (23rd) and strike-to-walk ratio (27th)
- Harrison was named Second-Team All American by MaxPreps, Miss Softball by the Alabama Sports Writers Association as a senior, as well as the 2023 Class 7A Player of the Year by ASWA, and played in the ESPN Futures All American Game in 2022
- Williams was ranked No. 51 on Elite Inning Softball's 2022 Elite 100, a year after being ranked as No.13 by the same organization

FOLLOW THE JAGS
For complete coverage of South Alabama Softball, follow the Jags on social media @SouthAlabamaSB (Twitter), /SouthAlabamaSB (Facebook), @SouthAlabamaSB (Instagram) or visit the official home of South Alabama athletics at usajaguars.com.