Orange Ends Regular Season with Three Twinbills
4/24/2007 1:59:17 PM | Softball
Weekly Release #11 - Niagara/Rutgers/Villanova
The Syracuse University softball team concludes the regular season this week with three doubleheaders. The Orange plays its final road games at Niagara on Wednesday, April 25. First pitch of game one is at 3 p.m. SU returns home for two doubleheaders this weekend at Skytop Stadium. Syracuse hosts Rutgers on Saturday, April 28 at 11 a.m. and Villanova on Sunday, April 29 at noon. Live radio ALL home broadcasts are available on suathletics.com via Orange All Access. Live stats of both home series will also be available on suathletics.com. The Orange will honor its lone senior, Erin Gray, before Sunday’s game. After this weekend Syracuse has a week off for finals before the BIG EAST Championship in South Bend, Ind. on May 10-13.
The History
Syracuse is 4-0 all-time against Niagara, sweeping the Purple Eagles in 2005 at Niagara and in 2006 at Skytop. The Orange has outscored the Purple Eagles, 32-1, in the four games, with the lone run coming in the first meeting. SU is 11-2-1 all-time versus Rutgers. Syracuse won the last four meetings, two at home and two on the road, outscoring the Scarlet Knights 39-6 over that span. The Orange are 6-0 all-time against Rutgers at Skytop. The Orange is 5-9 all-time against Villanova. Syracuse won four of the last five meetings, including the last three. SU is 2-4 all-time versus the Wildcats at Skytop. Overall SU has had success against this week’s opponents, going a combined 20-11-1 against Niagara, Rutgers and Villanova.
Scouting the Niagara Purple Eagles
Niagara (11-13, 5-3 MAAC) takes on Canisius on Tuesday before hosting Syracuse on Wednesday. The Purple Eagles are winners of three of their last four outings, including a 7-0 win against St. Peters on April 21. Niagara is hitting .297 as a team and is led offensively by Kristen Kill who is hitting .384 with 28 hits, 18 runs, 11 RBI, eight doubles, one triple and one home run. The Purple Eagles look to Brooke Viola (7-5, 3.11 ERA/63.0 IP) in the circle.
Scouting the Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Rutgers (17-26, 6-8 BIG EAST) hosts Fairleigh Dickinson in a double-header on Tuesday and a single game against Monmouth on Wednesday before traveling to Syracuse for a twinbill on Saturday. The Scarlet Knights are riding a four-game losing streak, including a two-game sweep at the hands of Connecticut last weekend. RU is hitting .277 as a team and is led offensively by Sarah Kalka who is hitting .390 with 48 hits, 29 RBI, 28 runs, nine doubles, six home runs and one triple. The Scarlet Knights look to Chrissy Yard (9-9, 4.34 ERA/103.1 IP) in the circle.
Scouting the Villanova Wildcats
Villanova (21-21-1, 3-9 BIG EAST) plays six games against Lehigh, St. John’s and Pittsburgh before traveling to Syracuse for a twinbill on Sunday. Currently the Wildcats are riding a two-game win streak, sweeping Providence last weekend. Villanova is hitting .273 as a team and is led offensively by Sheir Donley who is hitting .379 with 47 hits, 29 runs, 21 RBI, seven stolen bases, seven home runs and six doubles. The Wildcats look to Laura Determan (12-11, 2.87 ERA/143.2 IP) in the circle.
