Stacey Evans
Pitcher - Softball

What experiences can you draw upon from last year to help you continue to improve this season?
It really just comes down to confidence. I’ve already had that season to gain experience, so now it’s just a matter of building more and more confidence.

Many times you will pitch on back-to-back days. Does any fatigue set in during that second start?
Preseason work prepares our entire pitching staff for the weekend sets of games that we play throughout the season. So by the time we get into the season, fatigue really is not that big of an issue.

How often do you throw throughout a practice week prior to a weekend of games?
Usually, we pitch every day. The only difference would be on a Friday, when we generally have some freedom. At that point, we do whatever we feel we need to do in preparation for our upcoming games.

When you face the same opposition for the second consecutive day, do you have to take a different approach?
It usually is a little easier when you go up against a team for the first time, because it’s more difficult for them to adjust. Obviously though, it works the other way, too – you know how they swing when you see them a second time. When it comes down to it, I don’t really know if it makes all that much of a difference in the result.

During doubleheaders, how much information do you exchange with your other starting pitcher, as far what to expect when facing certain hitters?
It really does not happen all that much. Unless there is something about the playing field or a particular hitter that stands out, we usually don’t have too much discussion amongst one another about the opposing team.

What pitches do you use?
I throw a changeup, a screwball, a curveball and a rise ball. Usually, my curveball is my best pitch. Lately though, I have been using my screwball a lot.

Who is responsible for calling the pitches?
The catcher calls the pitches. What our catchers factor into that decision are things like where the batter is positioned in the box and what the batter has done in previous at bats.

Discuss your team’s Hawaiian swing to begin the season.
We finished up the games in Hawaii with a 3-3 record. Our offense struggled at times, but we played solid defense. I guess you could say that we persevered.

What did it mean to pick up one victory on your first Mid-American Conference road trip of the season at Marshall?
It was a big win for us. We certainly did not want to come away from that opening MAC series empty-handed. Hopefully we can continue to post victories in MAC play.

How difficult was the adjustment to the weather after returning from the Hawaii trip?
When it’s really cold, it is hard to pitch. Your hand becomes numb, which makes it a lot more difficult to throw the ball. Because of that, I definitely prefer to pitch on warmer days.

-The ‘10 Questions with…’ feature is compiled by Geoff Nason.

04/01/2003