Syracuse University
University of New Mexico
Syracuse Heads West for Season Opener
2/5/2009 2:14:31 PM | Softball
Game Notes (pdf)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange softball team opens the 2009 season with a three game stint at the University of New Mexico beginning Friday, February 6. Action is set to begin Friday at 5 p.m. MT, with 1 p.m. starts on Saturday and Sunday. This is the opening weekend for both teams.
Syracuse softball fans can follow the Orange via gametracker or live video at GoLobos.com.
“Now we get to the fun part – playing,” head coach #Leigh Ross# said. “The girls have worked so hard up to this point and are eager to put it all together on the field against another team. This weekend will give us the opportunity to not only see where we stand as a team, but also give our players a chance to show what they can do on the field.
“As a coaching staff, we will be able to mix things up in the lineup to get a better idea of what it will look like once our Big East games start. The team's mindset heading into the weekend will be what has driven them the entire offseason…pride, passion, privilege.”
This weekend will be the third meeting between the two clubs with the Lobos holding a 2-0 advantage in the series. Syracuse and UNM first met in 2000 during SU's inaugural season at the Clearwater Parks and Recreation Tournament in Florida. Most recently, the Orange took on the Lobos at the 2004 Fiesta Bowl Classic in Phoenix, Ariz.
Returning for their third year with the program are coach Ross and associate head coach #Kyle Jamieson#. In 2007, the duo coached the Orange to a 21-32 overall record (12-10 in BIG EAST play) and its fifth consecutive trip to the BIG EAST Championship. This season, the pair is joined by first-year assistant coach #Wallace King#. King spent the 2007-08 season as an assistant coach at Trine University in Indiana.
This year's team is led by five seniors, including captains Amy Kelley, Jamie Kelling and Lindsay Wasek. Last season, catcher Kelley and shortstop Kelling were both honored as members of the All-BIG EAST Second-Team, with Kelley also earned Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Region First-team accolades. Joining the trio are seniors Nicole Miller and Jorden Rosen.
Kelley is coming off her best season yet having led the team with a .346 batting average, a .627 slugging percentage and 11 home runs. One of Kelley's highlights from 2008 came when she became the first Orange softball player to hit home runs in three-consecutive plate appearances.
In addition to the seven starters and nine letterwinners returning from last season, coach Ross also welcomes the addition of eight newcomers to this year's squad. Joining the infield ranks are Kelly Saco, Lacey Kohl and Stephanie Ross. Joining junior Brittany Gardner, who pitched in a team-high 34 games last year, and sophomore Angie Sagnelli in the circle are Gaby Torzilli and Jenna Caira. Relieving Kelley behind the plate will be Emily Casey and Leah Porter, but the pair will also spend time in the outfield with field hockey transfer Nicole Lamison.
The Lobos are coming off a 25-26 season under third-year head coach Ty Singleton. Singleton welcomes back five starters from last year's team, including junior Katie Gilmore who was named to the All-Mountain West Conference team. She led the league in hitting with a.418 average during conference play and had 13 doubles.
Following this weekend the Orange makes its second consecutive trip to the College of Charleston Classic the weekend of February 13. SU will play in five games against teams such as Akron, James Madison, East Tennessee and Howard.
