Conference Showdown: Softball Begins BIG EAST Play At Rutgers And Villanova
3/28/2008 10:55:00 AM | Softball
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – After five weeks of preseason tournaments and a 12 day hiatus, the Orange softball (7-16) team returns to the diamond at noon on Saturday, March 29 for its BIG EAST opener and a doubleheader at Rutgers. SU then makes the 74 mile trek to Villanova on Sunday, March 30 for another noon doubleheader. Junior catcher Amy Kelley will try and improve on her team-best .343 average, while junior shortstop Jamie Kelling looks to extend her team-long five-game hitting streak.
Orange fans can follow Saturday's game by clicking here and then selecting the correct live stats link in the schedule. A similar procedure is required to view live stats for Sunday's games. Click here and then select the Syracuse game. A box to the right side of the page will pop up with the link.
Syracuse was last in action at the College of Charleston Classic (March 14-16) where it walked away with four wins in five games and the tournament title. The team batted .329 during the three-day affair, while the pitchers boasted a 1.89 ERA. The team earned the program's 200th victory with a 12-4, six-inning routing of the host school during the second day when Kelling made SU history by tallying the most hits in a single game by going 5-for-5.
She is third on the team with a .293 average and is second with 22 hits (75 at-bats). Kelley leads the team with a .342 average, which ranks in the top 15 of the conference, a .522 slugging percentage, 15 hits, three home runs and 35 total bases.
Freshman outfielder Rachel Helman is second with a .333 average behind 10-of-30 hitting. She batted .400 with a team-best .571 onbase percentage at the College of Charleston Classic.
The Orange is 4-3 in BIG EAST openers all-time and has begun conference play on the road five of seven seasons. SU and Rutgers have never opened their seasons against each other and Syracuse holds a 12-3-1 all-time series record – the most wins against any opponent.
Last season, the two teams split games in Syracuse with the Orange prevailing, 5-2, in the first game, but losing the second, 5-2.
After opening the season 6-3, the Scarlet Knights have lost 11 of their last 15, including a 10-1, home-opening loss to Hostra on March 26. Mallory Miller leads the team with a .348 batting average and 24 hits (69 at-bats). Katye Hamlin owns a 4-4 record in the circle with a team-best 3.41 ERA. She has appeared in 14 games, striking out 25 and allowing 30 earned runs.
Villanova has a slight 10-6 all-time series advantage against Syracuse and the two teams split last season. SU took the first game, 10-9, in 10 innings, but lost the second, 11-3, in five.
The Wildcats are coming off two victories against Niagara (2-0 and 7-3) on March 18 and have won three of its last five. Nicci Ward allowed just four hits in the shutout and has 2.55 ERA, while posting a 2-2 record. Laura Determan is Nova’s top ace with a 2.08 ERA, 49 strikeouts and a 4-4 record. She has pitch 40.1 innings, allowing 18 walks. Meghan Morese is batting a team-best .409 (18-for-44), 10 RBI a .614 slugging percentage.
Highlights | Syracuse vs. Iowa State
Sunday, March 22
Softball vs. Virginia (DH 2) 3/21/26
Sunday, March 22
Syracuse Softball vs. Virginia (DH 1) 3/21/26
Sunday, March 22
Calvin Russell Press Conference | Spring Practice 2
Sunday, March 22
