Orange Begins Busy Stretch at Buffalo

Weekly Release#9 - Buffalo/Louisville/South Florida/Cornell

The Orange begins a stretch of eight games in seven days with a twinbill at Buffalo on Wednesday, April 11. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3 p.m. Live audio of both games can be heard on SUathletics.com via Orange All Access. SU went 4-0 last week to improve to 14-24 overall and 5-5 in the BIG EAST Conference. The Orange swept a doubleheader from visiting in-state rival Binghamton, 12-0 in five innings and 4-0 and swept Pittsburgh, 7-5 and 10-5.

Orange All Access
For the first time SU softball fans will be able to watch games live on their computer. Syracuse will be steaming a live video webcast (weather permitting) of the Orange’s home games against Louisville and Cornell on SUathletics.com via Orange All Access. In addition, live audio of all SU’s games, with the expection of the St. John’s and Seton Hall contests, will be available on SUathletics.com via Orange All Access.

Scouting the Buffalo Bulls
Buffalo (2-29) has not played since March 31 due to inclement weather. The Bulls were swept by Bowling Green, SU head coach Leigh Ross’ former team, last time out, losing 9-3 and 9-0. Liz Hauke ended the day 3-of-5 while batting second in the batting order. Lacy Schneider inked two RBI and her team-leading fourth homer of the year. After being used sparingly on the mound last season, Dana Carter has emerged as Buffalo’s top pitcher so far this season. Sporting a staff-low ERA of 6.49, Carter owns 13 appearances on the mound and has been solid in relief. On Saturday in the Bulls’ 9-0 setback to Bowling Green, Carter pitched two strong, scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out three. Hauke has emerged as an unexpected strong point of the Buffalo offense. In the opening weekend of MAC play, the walk-on started all four games for the Bulls, ending the weekend with a .444 batting average (4-of-9) while sporting the team’s highest on-base percentage (.545) out of the players that participated in all four games. On the season, Hauke is currently third on the team in batting average (.235). The Orange is 6-1 all time against Buffalo, including 2-0 at Nan Harvey Field. Syracuse has won the last five meetings. UB’s lone win was a 2-1 triumph in the second game of a twinbill at Skytop Stadium on April 14 of SU’s inaugural year.

Orange Hits Its Way To Fourth-Consecutive Win
The Orange swept Pittsburgh, 7-5 and 10-5, on April 7. Junior Rachel Tilford ended the day with a .600 batting average, going a combined 3-for-5 with three RBI and four runs scored. Junior Chanel Roehner went 4-for-8 (.500) with two RBI, three runs scored and a double and sophomore Lindsay Wasek hit the second home run of her career, in a three RBI performance. Freshman Brittany Gardner allowed two earned runs off eight hits, while striking out eight in a complete seven innings of work in game one. Roehner allowed five earned runs off 11 hits, while striking out five in a complete seven innings of work in game two. Game one’s victory marked the 50th of head coach Leigh Ross’ career.

BIG EAST Honor Roll
Junior left fielder Rachel Tilford was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll on April 9 after helping lead the Orange to four victories this past week, sweeping Binghamton, 12-0 in five innings and 4-0 and sweeping BIG EAST foe Pittsburgh, 7-5 and 10-5. She ended the week with a .556 batting average, going a combined 5-for-9 with eight RBI, one grand slam, five walks and three stolen bases. Tilford went 2-for-2 in the first game of the week, including her first career grand slam in the third inning. She also had two stolen bases and a RBI single to finish with five runs batted in. Tilford smoked a deep fly ball to left center. The Binghamton left fielder crashed up against the wall, but could not make the play and Tilford had her first career grand slam to put the Orange ahead 9-0. Tilford’s grand slam was the seventh in Syracuse softball history and the first since Dani Stuart hit one against Niagara on April 12, 2006. The junior walked and had a stolen base in the second game against the Bearcats. In the sweep at Pittsburgh, Tilford ended the day with a .600 batting average, going a combined 3-for-5 with three RBI and four runs scored. She went 1-for-2 with three runs scored, two walks and a RBI in game one. She closed out the week with a 2-for-3 performance, knocking in two more runs, scoring once and walking once. Tilford’s 28 RBI and five home runs are both first on the team, her seven doubles are tied for second and her .476 slugging percentage, 20 runs scored and five stolen bases are third. She is also tied for third on the team in total bases with 49 and walks with 11.

BIG EAST Honor Roll
Freshman right handed pitcher Brittany Gardner was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll on April 9 after collecting two wins last week. In her first game, she hurled a one-hitter, collecting three strike outs and walking none in the shortened contest against Binghamton. The only hit Gardner allowed was a single in the second inning and she retired the final 10 batters of the game in order. Gardner earned her second win of the week, allowing two earned runs off eight hits, while striking out eight in a complete seven innings of work at Pittsburgh.

Ev-erything
Freshman Ev Anderson still leads the team with a .343 batting average and 24 runs scored. Her 34 hits are also tied for the team high. Her seven stolen bases are second on the squad, her .409 on-base percentage is third and her 11 walks are tied for third.

Syracuse University Athletics

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