Alexis Osorio: Finalist for National Freshman of the Year

With the departure of Alabama legend, Jaclyn Traina, the question naturally arose, who would be the ace of a solid Alabama pitching staff this season? Eyes naturally turned to Leslie Jury and Sydney Littlejohn, the latter with an SEC-leading 1.49 era in 2014. Littlejohn again leads the team in era, ranking 12th nationally with a paltry 1.43 era. However, fast on her heels is true freshman Alexis Osorio.

Alexis Osorio Named Top Three Finalist for NFCA Freshman of the Year - ROLLTIDE.COM - University of Alabama Official Athletic Site

The Riverside, Calif., native leads the Alabama pitching staff with 19 wins this season, posting 1.59 ERA, including an SEC-leading 1.60 ERA in conference play. She was the only pitcher to surpass 100 strikeouts in conference play, 67 of which were swinging, while holding SEC opponents to a .186 batting average.

Osorio is the SEC's Freshman player of the year, and made the All-South Regional team after she hurled twelve innings, striking out fourteen, and allowing one unearned run in regional play. The remaining finalists are Oklahoma's Paige Parker, who has logged 197 IP and sports a 1.49 ERA, as well as Oregon's Jenna Lilley. Lilley ranks in the Top 20 nationally with a .441 BA, .550 OBP and in sac flies (6.)