Alex Hupp is already off to a good start with the Nebraska softball team.
The freshman from Olathe, Kan., is the Cornhuskers' new right-handed pitcher and utility player.
"I love being on the mound and having the ball in my hand," Hupp said. "I love the adrenaline that comes from it."
In high school, Hupp was the starting pitcher for the Olathe East Hawks, who won the state championship during Hupp's last three years of high school.
She has received many awards, including first-team high school All-American honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and the title of 2005 Metro Player of the Year from the Kansas City Star.
She finished her high school career with a total of 672 strikeouts, an average of 168 strikeouts per season. No previous Olathe East pitcher had struck out more than 138 batters in a single season.
She has proven herself physically able to play the game. But now, in college, she has to become mentally prepared for the game.
"There is a major difference between high school and college softball," Hupp said. "College is a lot more mental. In college, there is a lot of concentration on the little things. So far, I have changed the way I pitch, swing and collect ground balls."
NU senior pitcher Ashley DeBuhr said Hupp has a lot of potential and has adapted to the college level of softball more than the other freshmen.
"I think she has a lot of good quality coming in as a freshman," DeBuhr said. "She is the kind of person that is out on the field encouraging everybody, even though she's a freshman. She's not afraid to yell, and it gets people excited for the game."
NU sophomore pitcher Molly Hill described Hupp as a great teammate who works extremely hard.
"During her first pitching for us, she was very positive, energetic and showed good composure," Hill said. "She's a good pitcher."
Hupp had her first pitching start last weekend at the Bluejay Softball Round Robin Tournament at the Creighton Sports Complex. She described her experience as a good start to her college career.
In the tournament, she also hit the lone home run in the game against South Dakota to seal the 1-0 win for the Huskers.
NU Coach Rhonda Revelle said Hupp is a tremendous competitor and athlete.
"Absolutely, Alex will compete in the circle as a pitcher," Revelle said. "I think she's going to have a great career in Nebraska."
