The only similarity between Stacy Kuwik and Lindsey Larkin is that they are both pitchers. Aside from that, they couldn’t be more different.

Kuwik, a senior, has thrown 404.1 innings in more than 100 appearances in her collegiate career. Larkin, a freshman, has thrown 4.2 innings in two appearances.

Before each pitch, the right-handed Kuwik circles the mound and takes several deep breaths. After taking her time, she starts her smooth delivery to the plate. Utilizing her curveball and riser, she looks to strike out her opponent before anything else.

The left-handed Larkin isn’t as deliberate. When she catches the ball from catcher Ashley Dimon, she quickly moves to the mound, takes her sign and starts her motion. Her delivery is frenetic, as she jerks her hands in multiple directions before snapping the ball toward Dimon’s glove. Using her drop ball and change-up, Larkin looks to force the opposition into easy ground-outs.

Syracuse (11-14) travels to Louisville, Ky., to face No. 11 Louisville (26-5) in a three-game series this weekend, starting with a doubleheader Friday at 2 p.m. The Cardinals are 13-1 at home this season and boast one of the best offenses in the Big East. The Orange will look to utilize its diverse pitching staff to halt the Cardinals’ offensive surge, and start their final year in the Big East on a high note.

“Lindsey and Kuwik are completely different pitchers,” SU pitching coach Jenna Caira said. “If we utilize our entire staff, Lindsay Taylor included, we can be successful.”

In Syracuse’s last game on Sunday against Harvard, both Kuwik and Larkin helped the team to a 5-4 extra-inning win. Kuwik threw six innings and gave up three runs on eight hits. After Kuwik yielded a two-run home run that tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the sixth, coach Leigh Ross replaced her with Larkin. She threw the final four innings, gave up just one run and grabbed her first collegiate win.

“I didn’t really know what was going on, to be honest, it was all nerve-wracking,” Larkin said. “I knew it was a big moment for the team and that I had to pull through, and just took it one pitch at a time.”

After facing Kuwik for six innings, the Crimson seemed thrown off by Larkin’s faster approach. She retired the first six batters she faced before giving up a home run to Harvard center fielder Zoe Galindo.

Despite that one hiccup, she controlled the game like a seasoned veteran.

But Louisville’s offense is far different from the Harvard lineup Larkin, Kuwik and Lindsay Taylor had little trouble with last weekend. The Cardinals lead the Big East in batting average (.331), on-base percentage (.411), runs scored (191), hits (273), RBIs (173), doubles (58), triples (7) and total bases (426) so far this season.

“Lindsey has proven that she can pitch well in tough situations,” Caira said. “We want to keep working her in and hope that Kuwik and Taylor continue to pitch well in their starting roles. Louisville is tough, but I think we’ll all be ready.”

Entering conference play, Kuwik and Larkin differ once again. This part of the schedule is completely foreign to the freshman, while Kuwik has seen her best results in Big East play throughout her SU career.

Last season, Kuwik went 8-0 in the conference and earned third-team, All-Big East honors for the second time. She and Larkin may be nothing alike on the mound, but the senior looks to set an example for her against the rival Cardinals this weekend.

“We play a lot of high-caliber teams in the beginning of the year, and going into the conference, I just always try and keep that intensity up,” Kuwik said. “I would tell the younger girls to focus on every game and just be mentally and physically prepared.”

Published on March 28, 2013 at 1:55 am

Contact Jesse: jcdoug01@syr.edu | @dougherty_jesse