Syracuse University
Georgetown
Orange Opens BIG EAST Play at Georgetown
4/1/2010 4:07:21 PM | Softball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse (14-13) opens BIG EAST play with a three-game series at Georgetown (12-16, 2-1). The series opens with a doubleheader on Friday, April 2 beginning at noon and concludes on Saturday, April 3 with a single game at 11 a.m.
Follow the Action
Syracuse softball fans can follow all the action via the SUAthletics.com live blog or via live stats.
Last At Bat
Syracuse's mid-week doubleheader at Siena was cancelled due to rain.
In its last time on the field, the Orange impressed in its home opener, defeating in-state foe Buffalo, 3-2 and 8-0 in a doubleheader. Nine different players recorded hits for the Orange, as it bested the Bulls, 17-6 in the category.
Freshman outfielder Veronica Grant was outstanding in her home debut, batting .750 (3-for-4) with five runs scored and hit her first collegiate home run, a three-run blast, in game two. Sophomore catcher Lacey Kohl hit .500 (3-for-6) with a double and a run scored while sophomore first baseman Kelly Saco also batted .500 (2-for-4) with her first triple of the season and a pair of runs scored.
Sophomores Stephanie Watts, Lisaira Daniels and Jenna Caira all hit .333 through the two games. Watts went 1-for-3 at the plate with an RBI while Daniels was 2-for-6 with an RBI. Caira was 2-for-6 with a run scored and hit her second double of the season.
Caira earned the victory in the first game, holding the Bulls without an earned run in 7.0 innings while striking out 13, one shy of her career high.
Senior Brittany Gardner earned the win in game two, one-hitting Buffalo while striking out five in 5.0 innings.
The All-Time Series
Syracuse is 1-1 in the all-time series with Georgetown as the teams split a doubleheader during the Hoyas' inaugural BIG EAST season in 2009.
The first meeting between the teams on April 11, 2009 extended to 12 innings - the second longest game in program history - with Georgetown emerging victorious, 2-1. Syracuse evened the series with a 5-2 win in game two of the doubleheader.
Scouting the Hoyas
Georgetown is 12-16 overall and 2-1 in the BIG EAST and has won five of its last six entering the three-game series with the Orange. The Hoyas opened conference play against Connecticut on March 27 and 28.
Senior Demetria Cipriano is the offensive leader for GU, batting .397 with a team-best seven doubles and 17 RBI while starting all 28 games. Sophomore Mackensey Carter is second on the team, hitting .378 with nine multi-base hits, 17 RBI and a team-best .549 slugging percentage.
Carter is also an anchor on the Hoyas three-pitcher staff, compiling a 3.18 ERA and 5-9 record in 15 appearances including eight complete games, striking out 46 in 79.1 appearances. Jennifer Connell is the leader of the staff, tallying a 2.76 ERA in 14 appearances, all starts, and has thrown 10 complete games. Connell has 42 strikeouts in 78.2 innings of work this season.
On Deck
Syracuse entertains the St. John's Red Storm in a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 7 with first pitch set for 3 p.m.
