Switenko Earns Conference Honor
4/7/2003 4:13:07 PM | Softball
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - SU freshman shortstop Alexis Switenko was named BIG EAST Softball Co-Player of the Week on Monday, April 7. Switenko is the second SU player to win the award this season, and the first Syracuse freshman to garner weekly honors from the conference.
Switenko led Syracuse to a 10-2, 10-6 doubleheader sweep at Providence on Sunday, April 6. She finished the day 4-for-6 with three home runs, four runs scored and eight RBI. She hit two home runs in the second game to tie the school record for homers in a game. She also had two home runs earlier this season at Virginia Tech. Her three long balls for the twin bill established a new school record for home runs in a doubleheader. Switenko had four RBI in each of the two games versus the Friars, matching the school single-game record and setting the doubleheader mark for runs driven in.
Switenko's season home run total is now seven, the best on the team and the most ever by a Syracuse freshman, and just two short of the Orangewomen's single-season record regardless of class.
For the season, Switenko is fourth in the team in batting with a .264 average (19-for-72). In SU's six conference games, she is hitting .375 with six hits. Five of those six hits have been home runs. Her slugging percentage in BIG EAST play is 1.375 (22 total bases in 16 at-bats). Ten of her team-leading 18 runs batted in have come in conference games. Switenko's season RBI total is already the third largest ever for an SU rookie.
The rookie joins junior second baseman Rachel Park as Orangewomen who have won the BIG EAST Player of the Week this season. It is the first time in SU's three seasons in the conference that two different players have won the award. In addition, Tara DiMaggio was named the league's pitcher of the week on February 24.
Syracuse (9-15, 3-3) is scheduled to open the home portion of its schedule on Wednesday, April 9 versus Penn State at 3 p.m.
