Syracuse University
Louisville
Orange Softball Debuts on ESPNU
4/21/2010 12:01:50 AM | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Syracuse (23-17, 7-4) makes its national television debut when it visits Louisville (27-15, 6-5) for a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 21 at Ulmer Stadium. The twinbill will air live on ESPNU with Justin Kutcher on play-by-play and Cheri Kempf providing color commentary. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
Follow the Action
ESPNU will carry the game live, it is currently the only televised game on Syracuse's schedule this season, pending BIG EAST Championship play, and marks the programs national debut. The Syracuse-Louisville contest is the only BIG EAST softball game carried on the ESPN Networks this season.
Orange fans can also follow all the action via live stats or live streaming video on uoflsports.com.
Last At Bat
Syracuse went 2-1 in a three-game series at Villanova, defeating the Wildcats, 3-1, in the top half of the doubleheader and 11-1 in the rubber match. Villanova took the bottom half of the doubleheader, 5-1.
Rookie centerfielder Veronica Grant led the Orange in the Villanova series, batting .400 (4-for-10) with a double, her first career triple and a pair of runs through the three games. Sophomore right fielder Lisaira Daniels and junior third baseman Hallie Gibbs were second on the team, both hitting .333. Daniels was 3-for-9 with three RBI and a pair of runs while Gibbs was 2-for-6.
Sophomore pitcher Jenna Caira earned both wins in the circle for the Orange, posting a 0.54 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 13.0 innings.
On Deck
Syracuse hosts Connecticut in a three-game weekend series beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 24 at noon.
All-Time Series
Louisville leads the all-time series, 8-1, dating back to 2006. The teams split a doubleheader at the SU Softball Stadium last season with Syracuse earning its lone series victory in a 10-5 upset of No. 17/18 Louisville. Caira threw 6.2 innings of the contest, holding the Cardinals without an earned run while striking out seven. Gibbs was 2-for-4 at the plate with her third home run of the season in the win.
Scouting the Cardinals
No. 25 Louisville enters Wednesday's contest ranked fifth in the BIG EAST at 6-5 with a 27-15 overall record. The Cardinals have won seven of its last 10 contests, spoiling No. 24 Notre Dame's perfect conference record with a 4-1 victory in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday. Notre Dame won the weekend series, 2-1.
Senior catcher Melissa Roth leads U of L offensively, batting .455 with 14 doubles, 14 home runs and 39 RBI on the season. Senior utility Vanessa James is second on the team, hitting .312 with 16 RBI while rookie utility Jordan Trimble is hitting .311 with 30 runs batted in.
Sophomore Tori Collins and senior Kristen Wadwell split the majority of the innings for the Louisville pitching staff. Collins is 9-4 on the season and a team best 3.03 ERA, striking out 103 in 104.0 innings while Wadwell is 14-9 on the season with a 3.09 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 142.2 innings pitched.
Orange News and Notes
Caira Racks Up the Weekly Honors
Sophomore pitcher Jenna Caira earned a pair of weekly honors for the week of April 19. Caira was named BIG EAST Player of the Week and ECAC Co-Player of the week after hitting .357 with three home runs, a double and six runs scored in five games last week, despite only having her first collegiate at bat in March. Caira hit her three home runs in a mid-week doubleheader at Cornell, including a pair in game one, becoming the first player to do so since 2008.
Caira was named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 12 and is the first BIG EAST student-athlete to earn both a Pitcher of the Week and Player of the Week award this season.
Orange in BIG EAST Top Three
Entering Wednesday's doubleheader at Louisville the Orange are ranked third in the conference standings at 7-4. Notre Dame leads the BIG EAST at 12-1 while DePaul is second at 8-3.
The Orange also ranks in the conference top three in slugging percentage (third - .396), on base percentage (second - .371), runs scored (third – 184), hits (third – 280), RBI (third – 167), doubles (third – 60), triples (second – 10), total bases (third – 414), walks (first – 150), opposing team batting average (.225), batters struck out (third – 270), and assists (third – 367).
Speedy Duo Ties Single-Season Steal Record
Rookie centerfielder Veronica Grant and sophomore right fielder Lisaira Daniels each have 20 stolen bases on the season, which ties for the single-season record. The current mark was set by sophomore Stephanie Watts last season.
Grant and Daniels have combined for 40 of 51 stolen bases for the Orange and are tied for the league lead in stolen bases. Entering Wednesday's contest the Orange is one steal away from matching the SU single-season record for steals (52) set last season.
Grant Approaching Freshman Doubles Mark
Freshman centerfielder Veronica Grant leads the Orange with 13 doubles on the season and is currently one shy of the SU freshman record for doubles in a season. Tonye McCorkle set the record with 14 doubles during her freshman campaign in 2006, while the SU season record for doubles is 18.
