Four Orange Softball Players Named All-BIG EAST
5/13/2004 1:59:59 PM | Softball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Four members of the Syracuse softball team received All-BIG EAST honors at the league’s championship banquet on Thursday, May 13. Junior outfielder Tanya Rose and sophomore shortstop Alexis Switenko were named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team, while sophomore outfielder Cassie Morales and freshman pitcher Courtney Mosch were third-team selections.
Rose has been honored by the league in each season of her career, making her SU’s first-ever three-time All-BIG EAST performer. She was a second-team selection last season and a first-team pick as a freshman in 2002. This season, Rose started all 54 of the Orange’s games, hitting .318 with eight home runs and 23 RBI from the leadoff spot. She set school records with 55 hits, 41 runs scored and 25 walks, and led the team with a .420 on-base percentage. Rose finished the regular season ranked second in the BIG EAST in runs scored, tied for 10th in total bases (90), fifth in walks and 8th in on-base percentage (.420).
Switenko also earned her second All-BIG EAST nod after being named to the All-Rookie team last season. She started all 54 games and led the Orange with a .327 batting average, while setting school records with nine home runs, 40 runs batted in, 94 total bases and a .580 slugging percentage. Switenko also paced the squad with two triples. She ranked among the league’s top 10 in several categories, including home runs, runs batted in, total bases and slugging percentage.
Morales earned her first-ever all-conference award with her third-team selection. Morales started all 54 games and hit .318 for the season, tying Rose for the SU school record with 55 hits. She also established a new Orange single-season mark with 18 doubles. Morales hit six home runs and collected 36 RBI, while striking out just 16 times in 173 at-bats. She led the BIG EAST in doubles. Morales also rated among the BIG EAST’s top 10 in runs batted in and total bases (91).
Mosch is the fourth SU freshman in the past three seasons to be named to an All-BIG EAST squad. The rookie right-hander posted a school-record 17 victories and led the Orange with a 1.81 ERA and five shutouts. She set a new SU single-season mark, throwing 197.2 innings, the fifth-highest total in the BIG EAST this season. Mosch struck out 126 batters and recorded SU’s first save since the 2002 season. She also batted .233 with four doubles, three home runs and 11 RBI. Mosch ranked eight in the BIG EAST in overall earned run average and was fifth in conference ERA at 1.28. Both totals were the lowest of any BIG EAST freshman. She also ranked among the league’s overall leaders in wins, shutouts and complete games (21).
SU’s four All-BIG EAST selections mark the second time in three seasons the Orange have had at least four all-conference players. Syracuse and St. John’s were the only two schools that did not qualify for the conference postseason to have four players named All-BIG EAST.
