Sydney Littlejohn Named SEC Pitcher of the Week
2/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala . - A perfect game in her first start highlighted a stellar opening weekend for Alabama sophomore Sydney Littlejohn, as she has been named the SEC Pitcher of the Week.
The Rusk, Texas, native didn't need any time to ease into her sophomore season, as she hurled a perfect game against Eastern Kentucky on Feb. 6 to open the Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Ala. She struck out a career-high eight batters en route to throwing just the second perfect game in program history, joining current UA pitching coach Stephanie VanBrakle, who tossed the first perfect game on April 1, 2006 against Kentucky. It is the 23rd no-hitter in program history and the first since then-freshman Jaclyn Traina did so against Jackson State on May 20, 2011.
Littlejohn earned her second win of the weekend on Sunday, Feb. 8 against McNeese, throwing 5.0 shutout innings while allowing just five singles against the Cowgirl offense. Over the weekend, she struck out 10 batters over 10.0 shutout innings pitched.
This is Littlejohn's second career weekly conference honor, though it is her first Pitcher of the Week award. She was named Freshman of the Week on May 5 last season after helping clinch the Tide's fifth SEC Championship in the final weekend of the regular season at Missouri. This is Alabama's first Pitcher of the Week award since Traina won on March 24, 2014.
Alabama is 6-0 to start the young season, opening the year with a big comeback win over No. 23 South Alabama before sweeping its five opponents at the Sand Dollar Classic. This is the fifth straight season in which Alabama has gone undefeated on opening weekend.
Littlejohn is sharing this week's Pitcher of the Week award with Kentucky junior Kelsey Nunley. Georgia junior Alex Hugo was named the Player of the Week while Georgia freshman Cortni Emanuel was named the Freshman of the Week.
This week, Alabama heads to Birmingham to play Samford on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. before heading to California this weekend for the Stanford Nike Invitational, featuring Stanford, Pacific and Cal Poly.
