Syracuse University
Connecticut
Orange Prepares for Matchup with Huskies
3/28/2009 5:09:58 PM | Softball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Head softball coach Leigh Ross and the rest of the Syracuse softball team head to Storrs, Conn. this weekend for its third BIG EAST Conference matchup of the season on Sunday, March 29. Syracuse (14-10, 3-1) meets Connecticut in a Noon doubleheader at the Burrill Family Field at the Connecticut Softball Stadium.
The Orange is coming off a sweep of Pittsburgh in its home opener on Friday. Senior Amy Kelley led the team to an 8-3 win in game one finishing 2-for-5 with five RBI, while freshman hurler Jenna Caira pitched a one-hit shutout for a 4-0 victory in game two.
Other top contributors in the doubleheader were freshman second baseman Stephanie Watts and senior shortstop Jamie Kelling. Watts ended the day 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and three runs and Kelling went 4-for-7 with a double, two runs and three RBI. In addition to her performance in game one, Kelley contributed a home run in game two, her third of the season and the 20th of her Orange career.
Syracuse is 8-10 all-time against UConn dating back to their first meeting in SU's 2000 inaugural season. SU secured its first victories against the Huskies in 2002 when it swept Connecticut, 7-0 and 4-1, in its BIG EAST opener that season.
In 2008, Syracuse lost all three of its games with Connecticut, including a 6-5 season-ending loss at the BIG EAST Championship in Louisville, Ky.
Scouting Connecticut
Connecticut hosts both DePaul and Syracuse this weekend in its home opener. The Huskies are 14-8 overall and 2-2 in league play.
The Huskies head into their matchups with the Blue Demons and the Orange on a six-game winning streak after defeating Boston College on March 26.
Sophomore shortstop Julianne Towers and junior pitcher Tricia Sullivan currently lead the Huskies in stats. Towers owns a .390 batting average after starting in all 24 games this eason. She has hit a team-leading seven doubles and five home runs. Sullivan guides the Huskies in the circle. With a 9-5 record, Sullivan has a 1.58 era after securing two shutouts and throwing 63 strikeouts.
What's Next
Following the trip to Connecticut, the Orange host two more BIG EAST competitors the weekend of April 4. Up first is South Florida at 11 a.m. on April 4 with Villanova following on Sunday, April 5 at Noon. Both games are doubleheaders and will be played at the SU Softball Stadium at Skytop.
