Softball Begins Trip to California Friday at Long Beach State Invitational
3/9/2006 6:58:55 AM | Softball
SU Begins Spring Break Trip at Long Beach State Invitational
• The Orange softball team begins a 10-day trip to California on Friday, March 10 when it begins play at the Long Beach State Invitational at Mayfair Park in Lakewood, Calif. The tournament is the first of two for SU on its annual spring break trip. The Orange will also compete in the Capital Classic in Sacramento, Calif. from March 17-19. In between the Orange will practice, have some free time and play an exhibition game versus the Chinese National Team on Wednesday, March 15.
• SU will face to familiar foes when play gets underway this weekend. The Orange has met both Mississippi State and UCLA previously. The Orange is 0-2 all-time against the Bulldogs and 1-1 versus the Bruins, including a 2-1 upset of UCLA in the 2005 season opener when the Bruins were ranked third in the nation. SU will also take on the host 49ers and compete against Mercer twice.
• SU has won eight of its last 10, including a 4-2 showing at the 25-team Buzz Classic from March 3-5. SU rolled to a 3-1 record in pool play and advanced to the quarterfinals of the championship round before being eliminated by N.C. State. The Orange posted wins against Eastern Michigan, Dartmouth, Winthrop and Georgia State during the three-day event.
Going Home
Back ... Back ... Back ... Gone!
• Syracuse has launched 17 home runs in its first 15 games and t is already almost half way to its season record of 39 long balls hit in 2005.
• Senior Alexis Switenko leads the team in homers with five and freshman Amy Kelley (3), senior Cassie Morales (3), sophomore Chanel Roehner (2), and rookie Jorden Rosen (2) each have multiple home runs this season.
• The Orange have hit two grand slams this year, one by Morales (Loyola-Chicago) and one by Kelley (vs. Georgia State. The slams were the third and fourth in team history. It marked the first time in Orange history SU hit two grand slams in the same season.
• Kelly’s slam came when she pinch hit for Rachel Tilford. It was the first pinch hit round-tripper in school history.
• SU has also hit back-to-back home runs twice this season. Tilford and Chanel Roehner turned the trick to bring the Orange back from a 2-0 deficit against Cal State Fullerton. Morales and Switenko went back-to-back in an 8-5 defeat of Winthrop on March 4. It was the third time in their careerz that Morales and Switenko combined for back-to-back jacks.
Better Get Them Early
• SU also has a come-from-behind win this year when trailing after five. The Orange rallied from a 5-3 deficit in the six inning versus Georgia State. Freshman Amy Kelley struck the big blow, hitting a pinch hit grand slam to propel the Orange to victory.
McCorkle Makes Big Splash
• Freshman outfielder Tonye McCorkle made a big impact on SU’s lineup in her first collegiate action at the Buzz Classic. She took over the leadoff spot and started all six contests.
• McCorkle led the Orange with a .421 (9-17) batting average in the six games.
• Against Dartmouth she went 3-for-3 and drove in three runs.
• She became the fourth Orange player to get a hit in her first collegiate plate appearance when she smacked a single in the first inning versus Eastern Michigan on March 3.
