Orange Picked Fifth in BIG EAST Preseason Poll
1/6/2010 2:21:42 PM | Softball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – After making its fifth-straight BIG EAST Championship appearance last season, the Orange have been tabbed for a fifth-place finish in the 2010 BIG EAST Preseason Poll, the conference announced recently. Syracuse posted a 30-21 overall record in 2009 and finished fourth in the BIG EAST with a 12-10 conference mark.
Syracuse earned 101 points in the preseason poll, as voted on by the conference coaches, and rounded out the top five teams earning more than 100 points. The Orange returns nine letter winners from a year ago, including five starters and its entire pitching staff.
Reigning BIG EAST and ECAC Rookie of the Year Jenna Caira is among the top returners. The Richmond Hill, Ontario native threw a pair of no-hitters in 2009, becoming the only pitcher in program history to pitch two no-hit games in a season. Caira compiled a 2.33 ERA, earning 16 wins while striking out 192 through 186.1 innings of work.
Sophomore Stephanie Watts and junior Hallie Gibbs also return to lead the team both offensively and defensively. Watts was one of three players to start all 51 games last season, leading all returners with a .318 batting average. Watts was also the extra bases leader for the Orange a year ago, tallying six doubles, five triples and seven homeruns. Gibbs started all 50 games in which she appeared last season, posting a .301 average with 50 hits including nine doubles, six homeruns and a team-best 35 RBI.
Louisville, which returns six All-BIG EAST selections from last season, was picked to win the conference with 137 points and six first place votes. DePaul, Notre Dame and USF rounded out the top four in respective order.
The Orange opens its 2010 season on Feb. 12 as it travels to Louisiana to compete against Bradley, Bryant and Louisiana-Lafayette in the Louisiana-Lafayette Mardi Gras Tournament.
