Syracuse University
DePaul
Orange Hosts DePaul on Senior Weekend
5/8/2010 8:54:01 AM | Softball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse (29-22, 10-8) concludes its regular-season schedule in a three-game series with league-leading DePaul (35-15, 16-3) at the SU Softball Stadium. The series opens with a Saturday doubleheader with games at Noon and 2 p.m. and concludes with the rubber match on Sunday at Noon.
Heading into the final weekend of the regular-season both Syracuse and DePaul have clinched spots in the BIG EAST Championship. It will be the sixth-consecutive conference tournament appearance for the Orange, who have qualified every season in head coach Leigh Ross' tenure. Based on this weekends results, the Orange could be seeded as high as fourth in the eight team postseason tournament.
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 to the public.
For those who can't make it out to the stadium, Orange All Access will be providing live streaming audio of all three contests. Fans can also catch the action via live stats and the SUAthletics live blog.
Last At Bat
Syracuse wrapped up its non-conference schedule splitting a Tuesday doubleheader at Canisius. The Orange took the top half of the twin bill, 4-3, before the Golden Griffins rallied for a 3-2 game two victory.
Sophomore Jenna Caira – the reigning BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week – was dominant in the circle, striking out the first 10 Canisius batters in order to open game one. The Toronto, Ontario native notched 13 strikeouts against the Golden Griffins, allowing three earned runs in the complete game win.
Rookie centerfielder Veronica Grant remained hot at the plate, leading the Orange offensively for the third-consecutive doubleheader. Grant hit .571 (4-for-7) with a run scored, two RBI and a pair of stolen bases through the two games. The Temple City, Calif. product also had a pair of doubles, tying the SU single-season record with 18.
All-Time Series
DePaul holds a 7-2 advantage in the all-time series with Syracuse, which dates back to 2006.
The Orange earned both its series wins against then No. 25 DePaul in a doubleheader sweep on April 9, 2006. The Blue Demons responded later that season, defeating SU, 8-0, in five innings at the 2006 BIG EAST Championship and have swept the doubleheader between the two teams every season since.
The teams most recently met in Chicago for a doubleheader on April 25, 2009 where DePaul emerged victorious, 4-0 and 5-2.
Scouting DePaul
The Blue Demons enter this weekend's doubleheader having won six straight and 13 of their last 14 contests, dating back to April 17. DePaul currently sits atop the BIG EAST standings, having most recently defeated No. 17 Illinois, 3-2, in its non-conference finale.
DePaul has a balanced unit with seven players batting .300 or more and a versatile lineup where no one player has started all 50 games this season. Junior outfielder Sean Pease leads the Blue Demons offensively, hitting a team-best .356 with 10 stolen bases while classmate Alex Morocco is hitting .348 on the season. Junior infielder Tara Voss is third, hitting .331 with a team-best 31 RBI.
Senior Becca Heteniak is the leading hurler in DePaul's three pitcher rotation. Heteniak is 18-9 with a 1.87 ERA and 185 strikeouts in 160.2 innings of work this season. Rookie Bree Brown is the Blue Demons number two starter, compiling a 15-5 record in the circle with a 2.57 ERA and 167 strikeouts through 138.2 innings pitched.
Senior Day
The regular-season finale also marks the final home games for senior pitcher Brittany Gardner, who will be honored in a pre-game ceremony before Sunday's rubber match.
A Sterling, Va. native, Gardner has appeared in 120 games for the Orange during her four-year career, notching 39 wins in 49 complete games and 532.1 career innings pitched.
Gardner leaves SU as one of the best pitchers to ever wear a Syracuse uniform, ranking among the top five on three single-season charts and seven career lists. She is the SU career leader in saves and earlier this season became one of only three pitchers in school history to tally 400 career strikeouts.
On Deck
Syracuse returns to Louisville, Ky. for the BIG EAST Championship, beginning May 13. Seeds and opponents for the conference tournament will be determined at the conclusion of all regular-season games.
