Orange Softball Racks Up BIG EAST Hardware

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Syracuse softball team had seven players named All-BIG EAST, including four first-team selections, at the conference’s annual awards banquet held on Thursday, May 12. In addition freshman pitcher Erin Downey was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, while head coach Mary Jo Firnbach and assistants Jodie Cox and Kim Doran were honored as the BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year.

Senior outfielders Tiffany Robinson and Tanya Rose, along with junior designated player Cassie Morales and sophomore utility player Courtney Mosch earned first-team accolades. Senior second baseman Shawna Norris, junior shortstop Alexis Switenko and Downey were each named second-team All-BIG EAST.

SU’s coaching staff was honored for the first time in the six-year history of the program. The Orange has already set a school record with 27 victories. Syracuse defeated three ranked teams this season, including third-ranked UCLA to open the campaign. The team has also set school records for longest winning streak, longest conference winning streak and longest conference road winning streak. Firnbach is the third Orange head coach this season to win the league’s coach of the year award, joining volleyball mentor Jing Pu and tennis boss Mac Gifford.

Downey is the second Orange player in the last four years to win the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year award. In 14 league appearances, Downey sported an 8-3 record with a 2.86 earned run average and two shutouts. She had 75 strikeouts in 71.0 innings pitched. Downey ranked tied for third with eight complete games. She also finished fourth in the league in wins and innings pitched, and fifth in strikeouts during league play. Overall, Downey ended the regular season with a 16-9 record and a 2.38 ERA. She struck out 182 batters, the second-most in school history.

Rose earned first-team All-BIG EAST accolades for the second time in her career (2002). She is the first player in school history to be named first- or second-team all-league four times. In BIG EAST play, Rose ranked among the league leaders in most offensive categories, including a conference-best 17 runs scored. She also was third in slugging percentage (.661), tied for third in home runs (4), fourth in hits (23), fourth in on-base percentage (.456) and fourth in total bases (39). Overall, Rose is batting .327 with five home runs, 22 runs batted in and a team-best 36 runs scored.

Morales was one of five unanimous first-team All-BIG EAST selections. She was a third-team pick last season. During BIG EAST play, Morales led the league with 26 hits, nine doubles, and 47 total bases. She was second in the league with 20 runs batted in and a .746 slugging percentage. Morales was tied for third in the BIG EAST with four home runs. Overall, Morales is batting .311 and leads the Orange with 14 doubles and 30 RBI. She has belted a career-best six home runs.

Mosch also earned first-team all-league accolades for the second straight year. She was a first-team selection as a utility player this season after being named to the third-team last season as a pitcher. Mosch batted .278 with three home runs and 10 runs batted in during league play while pitching and playing first base. In the circle, Mosch was 3-4 with one shutout and 35 strikeouts. Overall, Mosch is hitting .244 with a team-best seven home runs and 21 runs batted in. As a pitcher, she is 10-11 with a team-best 1.97 ERA and two shutouts. Mosch has struck out 120 hitters, while limiting opponents to a .204 batting average.

Robinson’s first-team nod was her first career all-conference selection. In league play, Robinson led the BIG EAST with a .444 batting average (20-45). She also ranked tied for sixth in the league in hits. Earlier this season, Robinson set the school record with a 16-game hitting streak from April 10-May 1. Overall, Robinson is leading with the Orange a .360 batting average. She has scored 16 runs and driven in eight more. She boasts a .402 on-base percentage and is 4-of-6 in stolen base attempts.

Norris earned second-team All-BIG EAST honors in her first season at SU. In league play, Norris started all 18 games and hit .320 with three home runs and 12 runs batted in. She slugged .540 and boasted a .443 on-base percentage. In all games, Norris is batting .285 with a team-leading seven home runs and 21 runs batted in.

Switenko was named second-team all-league for the second straight season. She was also an all-rookie team pick in 2003. In 18 league games, Switenko batted .320 with three home runs and nine runs batted in. She had a .520 slugging percentage and was fourth on the team with a .419 on-base percentage. Overall, Switenko is batting .317 with five home runs and 24 runs batted in. She leads the team with four sacrifice flies.

The Orange’s four first-team selections were the most of any school in the BIG EAST. SU’s seven first- or second-team picks were also the most in the conference. SU’s seven all-league selections is a school record, surpassing the team’s four award winners last season.

SU begins play at the BIG EAST Tournament at 5 p.m. on Thursday versus Seton Hall. Syracuse is the third seed in the event, while the Pirates are the second seed. The winner of the four-team tournament (Notre Dame, Villanova) will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA regionals.

-SU-

Syracuse University Athletics

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