The No. 2 Alabama softball team will face former pitching coach Vann Stuedeman in Starkville for a three-game series against Mississippi State this weekend.
For 11 years, Stuedeman served as pitching coach at Alabama. She developed six All-American pitchers, most recently Kelsi Dunne and Jackie Traina from the 2011 season.
Head coach Patrick Murphy said coaching against Stuedeman wouldn’t be easy at first.
“The first couple times are rough,” Murphy said. “Once the first time happens, then it becomes another opponent really. I think that’s the same thing for her. It’ll be difficult at first, then after that, it’ll be [Mississippi] State versus Alabama.”
The Bulldogs are off to their best start since 2008 at 18-15 overall and 3-10 in Southeastern Conference play, including a 5-3 win against then-No. 7 Georgia. Georgia was the highest-ranked opponent a Mississippi State softball team has ever defeated.
State’s pitching staff has already seen improvement under Stuedeman. Bulldog pitchers have thrown 14 complete games in the 2012 season. State has also lowered its ERA to 2.48, significantly lower than the 4.90 it posted last season.
Murphy had high praise for Stuedeman’s coaching performance in her first year.
“They got beat at Florida 1-0,” Murphy said. “They played them really tough. We’re happy for her. She was here 11 years with us, and I know she took a lot with her.”
Murphy showed no concern over whether Stuedeman had an advantage in understanding the Alabama pitchers. He said first year coach Stephanie VanBrakle has done enough to tweak the Tide pitching staff.
“They’ve learned stuff from [VanBrakle] too this year,” he said. “They’re a little bit different in that respect.”
The Bulldogs are led by left-handed pitcher Stephanie Becker. Becker has a 10-7 record, with eight complete games and an ERA of 1.98 with 94 strikeouts.
The Tide’s own pitching staff took a hit when junior pitcher Lauren Sewell underwent knee surgery Tuesday. Sewell was injured in last Friday’s game against DePaul and will be out for the remainder of the season.
Sewell was 2-0 on the year, starting five games and appearing in seven. She had an ERA of 1.75 and hadn’t given up a home run this season.
After missing the doubleheader at Auburn, Jazlyn Lunceford should be available for the Tide in the weekend series. Lunceford collided with Longwood’s catcher trying to reach home plate in last Sunday’s game. Lunceford stayed down for a few minutes before walking off the field. She was held out as a precautionary measure.
