Syracuse University
Buffalo
Softball Hosts Buffalo in Home Opener
3/24/2010 1:25:02 PM | Softball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – After 19 days on the road, the Orange (12-13) opens its home schedule against Buffalo on Wednesday, March 24 at the SU Softball Stadium. First pitch in the double header is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Follow the Action
Fans are invited to join the Orange at the SU Softball Stadium – located in the heart of South Campus between the Goldstein Student Center and Tennity Ice Pavilion. Admission is free.
Orange supporters who cannot make it out to the field can find complete postgame coverage on SUAthletics.com.
Last At Bat
Syracuse wrapped up its 10-day spring break trip in Clearwater, Fla. at the USF “The Game” Tournament, where it compiled a 2-3 overall record to finish tied for sixth among the 16 participating teams.
Highlighting the weekend was SU's 11-3 upset of 17th-ranked Ohio State. The Orange used a 10-1 advantage in hits, including home runs by Hallie Gibbs and Lisaira Daniels, to roll the Buckeyes and earn its first win against a ranked opponent this season.
Freshman Veronica Grant led the Orange at the plate, hitting .412 with three doubles, a team-best tying five runs scored and a trio of stolen bases. Junior Rachel Helman had a break out weekend at the plate in her home state of Florida, hitting .375 with a double and three runs scored through the five games.
Gibbs hit .386 with a team-best tying five RBI in tournament action while Daniels hit .286 with five runs scored, a handful of RBI and two stolen bases.
Sophomore Jenna Caira was the leading pitcher for the Orange, appearing in all five games. Caira earned the win against 17th-ranked Ohio State, limiting the Buckeyes to one hit – her second one-hit complete game performance of the season. Caira threw 16.4 innings at the USF “The Game” Tournament allowing six earned runs while striking out 27.
Senior Brittany Gardner made two appearances in the circle during the weekend, shutting out the opposition in six innings while allowing only four hits. Junior Angie Sagnelli also made a pair of appearances, refusing to surrender an earned run in 4.2 innings. Freshman Stacy Kuwik rounded out the battery for the Orange, earning the win against Towson, allowing only one earned run in 5.0 innings.
Syracuse – Buffalo Series
The Orange holds an 8-4 lead in the all-time series with Buffalo, dating back to 2000.
The teams most recently met last season, splitting a doubleheader, 1-1. Buffalo won the first game, 5-3, before Syracuse earned a 6-2 victory in an eight inning game two.
Scouting the Bulls
Buffalo brings an 8-16 overall record into Wednesday's contest, after going 1-4 at the Coastal Carolina Tournament this past weekend. The Bulls defeated Oakland, 6-5, in eight innings in Myrtle Beach, S.C. before falling to Coastal Carolina, Houston Baptist and dropping a pair of games to Houston Baptist.
The Bulls have six everyday starters and eight additional players who have rotated into the starting lineup during the course of the season. Buffalo has four options in its bullpen, with its two top pitchers combining to throw 148.9 of 153.0 innings this season.
Sophomore infielder Kristin Waldron is the offensive leader for the Bulls batting .320 with three doubles, three triples and a team-best 12 RBI through 23 games. Freshman outfielder Taylor Franich is second on the club with a .269 average and six RBI while classmate Alyssa Ward also has six runs batted in while hitting .230 on the season.
Senior Sharon Barr is the workhorse of the pitching staff, appearing in 22 of 23 games this season, including 15 starts. Barr is 7-9 on the season and has thrown 10 complete games. She has a 4.79 ERA through 103.1 innings of work and has 66 strikeouts to her credit while opposing hitter have a .287 average against her. Terese Diaz completes the Buffalo pitching tandem, holding a 4.78 ERA in 11 appearances with 36 strikeouts in 43.1 innings pitched.
