SU Preps for Tough BIG EAST Weekend

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse softball enters the final stretch of the regular season this weekend with two BIG EAST matchups. Up first for the Orange is a trip to Providence on Saturday, April 18. Action is set to begin to at 11 a.m. The team returns home immediately for a 2 p.m. Sunday doubleheader with No. 17/18 Louisville at the SU Softball Stadium.

Syracuse (23-13, 8-4) looks to extend its five-game winning streak and sweep its first BIG EAST opponent on the road Saturday in Rhode Island. While SU is 9-1 at home, including a 5-1 mark in conference play, the Orange is 3-3 in league play on the road having split doubleheaders at Seton Hall, Connecticut and St. John's.

The Orange is coming off a big week where two major milestones were recorded. Not only did freshman Jenna Caira pitch her second no-hitter of the season with an 8-0 shutout of Canisius, the win secured head coach Leigh Ross' 300^th career victory. Caira became the first SU hurler to throw more than one no-hitter in a season after she threw her first in game one against Villanova on April 5. She has now doubled the original program total.

On Wednesday, April 15, Syracuse hosted Ivy League South Division leader Cornell. Seniors Jamie Kelling and Nicole Miller led the Orange to a 3-0 victory in game one. Kelling was 2-for-3 at the plate, while Miller went 1-for-2, scoring two runs and hitting a home run. SU outhit the Big Red 9-3 in game two with three freshmen leading the way. Lacey Kohl went 2-for-2 with two runs and Stephanie Watts and Kelly Saco each slammed a long ball out of the park and recorded two RBIs apiece.

Watts continues to lead the Orange this season at the plate. She is batting .380, including .400 in BIG EAST play, to be one of five squad members batting .300 or better. Caira, junior Brittany Gardner and sophomore Angie Sagnelli have all spent time in the circle. Caira has a team-best record of 11-5 and has thrown 125 strikeouts.

Scouting Providence

The Friars head into Saturday's doubleheader having won only three of their last 12 games. At one point, PC lost six straight games, including two to nationally-ranked Louisville and two to a tough Boston College squad.

On offense, Providence (13-26, 5-6) is led by Mary Rose Sheehy. She is batting .381 tallying a team-best 45 hits and 28 RBIs. In the circle, top-returner Danielle Bertolette currently has a 5-13 overall record in 23 appearances. She has thrown a team-leading 64 strikeouts.

Syracuse leads the all-time series with the Friars 12-6 and has won the last three meetings between the two squads. The teams have met every year since the Orange started its program.

Scouting Louisville

Nationally-ranked Louisville currently leads the BIG EAST with a 37-5 overall record and is 12-2 in league play. The Cardinals have won nine of their last 10 games with their only loss coming to Seton Hall, 6-5.

Tenth-year head coach Sandy Pearsall currently has seven players batting better than .300, with two players above .400. Melissa Roth leads the squad batting .431 with 11 home runs and 12 doubles. Kristen Wadwell, a three-time BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week, has led UofL to 31 of its 37 wins. She has thrown 196 strikeouts and has a 1.23 era.

Syracuse has yet to win a game against the Cardinals, a trend the Orange aims to end this weekend. UofL is SU's second meeting with a ranked opponent this season. SU met then No. 4/3 UCLA at the Long Beach State Invitational earlier this season.

What's Next

Syracuse plays its final non-conference game of the season on Wednesday, April 22 when it hosts regional foe Siena. Doubleheader action begins at 5 p.m. at the SU Softball Stadium at Skytop. Live Stats will be available and OAA will be providing live audio coverage.

Syracuse University Athletics

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