Before the softball season started, coach Patrick Murphy laid out what he saw from his pitchers in the fall season.

In 2013, junior Leslie Jury finished the season 18-7 with a 2.56 ERA. She started in 19 games and threw 12 complete games and six shutouts.

“I think Jury’s going to be a totally different kid,” Murphy said. “Mentally, so much better. Just a totally different outlook, a lot more confident. Work ethic was probably the top maybe three on the team last fall.”

This season, Jury leads the team in ERA with 1.74. She’s 8-2 with 10 starts. She has also thrown a team-high eight complete games and five shutouts.

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Jury has a bit of swag to her on the mound, but fellow junior Jadyn Spencer said she would choose a different word.

“I like to say fierce because L.J. just has this fierce presence about her on the mound,” Spencer said. “She just looks like there’s no possible way that she’ll ever give in, and that’s reassuring as her teammate to know that she’s got your back. It’s easy to have hers.”

Former South Carolinian Marisa Runyon said Jury helps her adjust to life at Alabama.

“We talk about it all the time ,like we’re from South Carolina, we’ve got to represent and kind of stick together, and we really want to represent South Carolina proud for sure,” Runyon said.

This weekend, a familiar opponent is in town for both Jury and Runyon. No. 11 Alabama will host South Carolina for a three-game series.

It’s not so much a homecoming series as it is a rivalry series.

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“I guess I don’t really think about that as much, but her being from South Carolina, I’m sure there’s an extra little fire that’s going to be within inside of her this weekend, so she’ll look extra fierce on the mound,” Spencer said.

The South Carolina lineup won’t be unfamiliar to either Jury or Runyon, who know many of the names on the roster.

“It’s a big weekend,” Jury said. “South Carolina’s a great program, and there’s quite a few girls on that team that I’ve played with and against, so it’s always fun to play against them. They’re a great softball team, so we’re looking forward to them this weekend.”

Batters have hit .170 against Jury in 2014. She has 14 earned runs in 56.1 innings pitched. On Sunday she took the loss, her first since Feb. 16. In that span, she had five wins and three straight shutouts.

“I just want to continue to do what I’ve been doing,” Jury said. “I always want to win, so I might get a little more pumped since I’m playing the home state, but I’m going to keep the same game plan I’ve always had and stay with my guns.”

(See also “Softball team defeats UAB, continues winning streak“)