Coach Thoughts: Lori Sippel on the 2016 Season

1) You return every pitcher from last season, but three of your four pitchers last spring were in their first year at Nebraska. What kind of strides have the returners made and how do you think the experience they gained last season can benefit them this year?

"Last year has sparked a good amount of forward progress for the pitching staff as a whole. The experience gained should show up in their ability to deal with the caliber of hitting lineup they face day-in and day-out. Understanding the mental endurance needed to stay on course is only something that the game will reveal.

"Overall I believe that they all have a better foundation to their pitches so we’ve been able to throw the game at them more in the offseason and preseason. A weekly dose of game situations, managing counts, reading batters’ swings...all the stuff that goes into having a purpose in the circle and for each pitch has really helped us all to identify what is next in each pitchers' journey."

2) You have five pitchers on the roster for the first time since 1997. What are the benefits of having a larger staff and how do the pitchers complement each other?

"The larger staff should allow us to strategize more in terms of game management. This fall we instituted an 'all in - all ready' scenario, and I thought it was effective in keeping the pitchers fresh while keeping the opponent off balance. For this to happen this spring, the pitchers need to own their role and pitch to their strengths.  

"As we see the five pitchers work together, we will better be able to see what the best strategic combinations will be for the Huskers. Right now we have pitchers that can bring the following to the table: command of the zone, postseason and championship experience, East-West movement, North-South movement, three speeds, pitch to contact and strikeout combinations. What one pitcher doesn’t have in her repertoire another does, so strategically pitching by committee could be our strength."

3) If you could only describe each of your five pitchers in one word, which word would you choose? 

Caitlin Bartsch: "Controlled"
Kaylan Jablonski: "Hungry"
Taylor Kadavy: "Eager"
Emily Lockman: "Veteran"
Cassie McClure: "Emerging"