Orangewomen Look to Extend Winning Streak
4/12/2002 9:48:52 AM | Softball
The Syracuse softball team will put its school-record six-game winning streak on the line this weekend with a pair of BIG EAST doubleheaders on the road. SU will face Pittsburgh (17-25, 3-7) at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 13 and Notre Dame (19-12, 6-0) at 12 p.m. on Sunday, April 14.
Syracuse is off to its best start in the program's three-year history with a 16-10 overall mark and a 4-0 record in conference play. The Orangewomen and the Fighting Irish are the only two teams still unbeaten in conference play.
The pitching tandem of senior Heather Brown (Farmington, N.M./Farmington) and junior Tara DiMaggio (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) have not allowed an earned run in 28 innings of work during BIG EAST play. They have given up just 13 hits combined and have struck out 35. Overall, the Orangewomen pitching staff, including freshman Taylor Petersen (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) has given up only three runs during the latest winnings streak.
At the plate, the Orangewomen are led by junior outfielder Kristen Collins (Stow, Mass./Nashoba Regional). Collins is hitting .485 for the season (33-for-68), including a .400 average during conference play. A pair of freshman lead the team in hitting in SU's four BIG EAST games. Catcher Katie Kaempfer (Las Vegas, Nev./Bonanza) and outfielder Tanya Rose (Milwaukie, Ore./Rex Putnam) are both hitting .429 (6-for-14) in conference competition. Kaempfer has driven in a team-best six runs in those four games, while Rose leads the squad with four doubles.
Pittsburgh is coming off a doubleheader loss to Robert Morris on Thursday. The Panthers are led at the plate by Clar McCann. She is hitting .329 (24-for-73) with 10 runs batted in. Kelly Hulpa leads the team in home runs (4) and runs batted in (22). Nikki Gasti leads the Panthers with a 2.73 ERA and eight victories.
The Fighting Irish have won 11 straight games, including all six of their conference tilts. Jarrah Myers is hitting .363 with a team-leading five home runs and 22 runs batted in. Notre Dame has five players hitting .300 or better. Steffanie Stenglein paces the pitching staff with 11 wins and a 2.15 earned run average.
Syracuse has never defeated Pittsburgh or Notre Dame. The Orangewomen are 0-2 all-time versus both teams after being swept in doubleheaders during the 2001 season.
