The veterans started the game, but the rookies finished it.

The No. 11 Alabama softball team handed South Carolina a 10-5 loss on Saturday to take a 2-0 lead in the series with the help of its freshman.

Junior Leslie Jury (8-2) started in the circle for Alabama, giving up five earned runs on six hits. She pitched 3 1/3 innings with a 9-5 lead.

Freshman Sydney Littlejohn (5-0) earned the win in 3 2/3 shutout innings after coming in for Jury in the top of the fourth.

“My curve ball was probably my best pitch, and Molly [Fichtner] was making the frames and [Alabama assistant coach Stephanie VanBrakle] did great calling the pitches,” Littlejohn said.

She faced 12 batters, struck out two and walked one.

“That was terrific,” Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said. “Our girls see it every day in practice and saw it all fall, and just the ball really moves. It’s fun to watch her pitch. Again for her to come in like that in her first SEC, well, big time performance, or longer performance.”

Littlejohn wasn’t the only freshman to make waves in the Saturday game. Peyton Grantham was in the lineup as designated player. In the first inning, she hit a two-run single with the bases loaded.

“It was right after we got done; I went over and told [the team] as they were warming up that she’s going to be the DP, she earned it, she hit the best and then to come through right off the bat with a two-run single is awesome,” Murphy said.

Freshman Marisa Runyon came off the bench to pinch hit with Fichtner on second in the bottom of the sixth. Alabama was up 9-5 with one out. She had an RBI single to drive in the final run.

“That says a lot about her as a hitter and a player to come off the bench, and it was quick too,” Murphy said. “It was a quick decision where I just yelled, ‘Runyon, you’re up’ and she had to collect her thoughts and add the tenth run.”

Sophomore left fielder Kallie Case is adjusting to her spot in the lineup behind leadoff Haylie McCleney this season. On Saturday, she went 2-for-4 with an RBI single to drive in McCleney in the first inning.

“It’s a lot different,” Case said. “It’s really selfless kind of hole. You know, Haylie is a very great hitters, one of the best hitters we have, and so she always gets on so it’s always my job to get her over, and in the first inning, that’s always our goal is to score first so as long as I can do that job I know whoever’s behind me is going to get her in.”

Alabama (19-4, 2-0 SEC) will face off against South Carolina (14-6, 0-2) in the final game of the series Sunday at 1:35 p.m.