Orangewomen Picked Seventh In BIG EAST
1/4/2001 12:26:36 PM | Softball
Syracuse finished its inaugural season in 2000 with a 24-23-1 record. The team competed as an independent.
The Orangewomen return 10 players that started at least half the team's games last season. Senior outfielder Shanna Newell (Fort Edward, NY) is the squad's leading returning hitter. She played in 34 games last season, hitting at a .316 clip. Syracuse also returns its two top run producers, led by sophomore infielder Jackie Herrman (Warren, OH). Herrman hit .257 with a team-best 22 runs batted in. Sophomore catcher Cheryl Julicher (Williamsville, NY) led the team with nine extra-base hits, including four home runs. She also drove in 18 runs.
Syracuse returns both of its pitchers from the 2000 season, including sophomore Tara DiMaggio (Hopewell Junction, NY). DiMaggio posted a 14-11 record in 34 games with a 1.46 earned run average. She struck out 208 batters in 191.1 innings, and limited opponents to a .191 batting average. Senior Missy Bieman (Wingham, Ontario) went 10-12 with a 2.41 ERA in 25 appearances. She struck out 96 hitters, while walking just 20. The Orangewomen pitching staff will also feature junior college transfer Heather Brown (Bloomfield, NM). Brown was the 2000 National Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Year at Central Arizona College. She went 35-4 with a 0.35 ERA and 286 strikeouts, leading Central Arizona to an NJCAA Championship runner-up finish.
Defending BIG EAST-champion Notre Dame was a unanimous selection to capture the conference title. The Fighting Irish have won five consecutive regular-season titles and back-to-back BIG EAST Tournament titles. They return all nine starters from last year's 47-14 squad, including conference preseason Player of the Year Melanie Alkire and preseason Pitcher of the Year Jennifer Sharon.
Connecticut finished second, while Seton Hall and Virginia Tech tied for third. Boston College and Villanova occupy the fifth and sixth positions. Syracuse was picked ahead of St. John's, Rutgers, Pittsburgh and Providence.
Syracuse opens the 2000 slate on February 9 at the Auburn Tiger Invitational versus Northern Illinois. They are also scheduled to take on Auburn, Ohio State and Purdue during the course of the three-day tournament.
