Alli Burdette is finding out how nice it is to come back home.
It's not just home-cooked meals and being surrounded by family, though the former South Charleston High School softball star enjoys all of that. It's also the joy of sitting in that comfort zone and still walking into the pitching circle as a college player.
After Burdette transferred from Division I Elon College to the Division II University of Charleston, she walked onto a roster that welcomed her and now depends on her to help the Golden Eagles push to the top of the Mountain East Conference standings.
Burdette said the move from North Carolina back to West Virginia was made for personal reasons. Her time in the circle was sparing in her last season at Elon. She pitched just 28 innings in 12 appearances, including four starts.
Life is much different with the Golden Eagles. The junior already has thrown 88 1/3 innings this season with 15 starts. That, she said, is a much better feeling.
"It's nice to know that, when it's game day, you have to be ready," she said, "because at some point in the day, you're going to be pitching. It's easier to prepare."
Her sparse playing time in 2015 made her a bit of a mystery to UC coach Ray Loeser. He had recruited Burdette as a high schooler, when she was a Class AAA all-state first-team pick in 2012 and 2013. He wasn't sure if things had changed. He learned quickly that everything was fine.
"You didn't know what you were getting in the sense that she only threw a limited number of innings last year," he said. "You didn't know what to expect, so everything she's done has been on top of expectations."
Burdette, as part of UC's 1-2 pitching punch with Jessie Rowe, is 11-2 on the season with an 2.38 ERA and 81 strikeouts against 32 walks. Twice, she has been named MEC pitcher of the week. Loeser praised her composure in the circle and her ability to throw strikeouts to every corner of the plate.
Loeser agreed that the comforts of home have benefited Burdette. Her family and friends don't have to travel far to watch her pitch. She also knows plenty of her opponents around the MEC. While that familiarity helps batters know what to expect from her, it also helps her know what to expect from them.
Burdette credits the friendly atmosphere around the Golden Eagles dugout in helping with her quick transition. The getting-to-know-you period didn't last very long.
"As soon as I got here, I knew it was a good fit," she said. "I really liked the team and it just felt right. I felt like part of the team right away."
Her arrival has paid off for UC. The Golden Eagles are 20-7 overall and 9-3 in the Mountain East, battling nationally ranked West Virginia Wesleyan for the top spot in the conference's Southern Division. And with every win, Loeser feels Burdette's confidence grows.
"I think she's always had the ability," Loeser said. "She just needed someone to believe in her. She's got nine other teammates that, every day, believe in her. And she's starting to believe in herself."