Two Orangewomen Win BIG EAST Weekly Honors
2/24/2003 5:02:49 PM | Softball
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Syracuse junior second baseman Rachel Park (Mt. Juliet, Tenn./Friendship Christian) and senior pitcher Tara DiMaggio (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) have been named BIG EAST Player of the Week and BIG EAST Co-Pitcher of the Week, respectively. Park is the second player in Orangewomen history to receive the honor, while DiMaggio is the first pitcher to win the weekly award in SU's three seasons in the BIG EAST.
Park led the Orangewomen at the season-opening UNLV Tournament, hitting .438 (7-for-17) with four runs scored, two home runs and three runs batted in. She hit a home run in her first at-bat to extend her school-record hitting streak to 11 games. The string was snapped in the next game, but Park hit safely in each of the Orangewomen's final three games. Her two home runs tied her season total from all of 2002.
DiMaggio went 2-0 without allowing an earned run in 21.1 innings of work at the UNLV Tournament. She recorded shutouts in both of her starts, including a two-hitter versus Louisiana-Monroe. She also shut out Tennessee, 3-0. She did not allow an earned run all weekend and held SU's opponents scoreless over the final 12.2 innings she pitched. DiMaggio struck out 14 and walked just five while limiting opponents to a .167 batting average.
Syracuse went 2-3 at UNLV with wins versus Louisiana-Monroe and Tennessee. The Orangewomen lost twice to the host Rebels and once to the Lady Vols. SU is scheduled to travel to Carbondale, Ill. for a tournament hosted by Southern Illinois University starting February 28. The Orangewomen will take on the Salukies, as well as Northern Illinois and Iowa State.
