April 22, 2008

Carbondale, IL (UWIRE) -- After a slow start to begin her career on the SIU softball team, freshman pitcher Danielle Glosson has found a home in the circle.

Early losses to top programs including Kansas and Hawaii put the freshman pitcher's record, which now stands at 5-7, below her high standards. But those numbers don't reflect the success Glosson has had in the Saluki uniform.

"At the beginning of the year, I was struggling," Glosson said. "My dad and (Coach) Kerri (Blaylock) kept telling me to keep fighting and I kept going and it's gotten a lot better."

Being thrown into a starting position to help fill roster vacancies led by former Saluki aces Ashley Hamby and Cassidy Scoggins, Glosson said she knew she would have extra motivation to become a better pitcher.

But after starting the season off at 1-1, Glosson lost the next first four games by a combined nine runs and went almost a month without recording a win.

Glosson said she didn't need to make a change in her approach when she stepped into the circle - just a change of mentality.

"I just think I was lacking confidence," Glosson said. "I just needed to get over it and throw the ball."

And now, Glosson, a native of Winston-Salem, N.C., leads the team in earned run average at 2.33 and strikeouts with 98.

Blaylock said Glosson struggled early in the season because she would fall behind in the count and let runners on base before she could establish a rhythm.

Blaylock said she has seen more confidence from the young pitcher lately.

"She's confident on the mound, throwing a lot of strikes and very, very tough to hit right now," Blaylock said.

Despite coming off a successful high school career where she recorded 1,346 strikeouts -the second most in North Carolina history - 26 career no-hitters and eight perfect games, Glosson said she knew pitching in college would be no easy chore.

"I had an idea but I'm always real optimistic thinking that I'm going to go in there and throw like I did in high school," Glosson said. "And it was a big eye opener."

Blaylock said she didn't recruit Glosson for her strikeout abilities but knew she could be successful because of her composure on the mound and good ball movement.

Glosson is well on her way to setting school records, as she is only 22 strikeouts behind Tania Meier, who is 10th place all-time at SIU with 120 strikeouts.

Blaylock said would not be surprised to see Glosson in the record books.

"Danielle is just going to get better and better," Blaylock said. "And I tell them all the time it's not about a year. It's about a career."

The Salukis will face Tennessee-Martin in a double header today in their final regular season home series beginning at 3 p.m.

(C) 2008 Daily Egyptian via UWIRE