Syracuse University
Tennessee Tech
Tournament Preview: Georgia State
2/11/2011 9:55:24 AM | Softball
| Georgia State Tournament | |||
| Syracuse | Tennessee Tech | Morehead State | Georgia State |
| 0-0, 0-0 BIG EAST | 0-0, 0-0 OVC | 0-0, 0-0 OVC | 0-0, 0-0 CAA |
| Game Info |
Feb. 12 vs. Tennessee Tech | 10 a.m. |
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| Location | Decatur, Ga. | Bob Heck Field | ||
| Online | Live Stats | Live Chat | ||
The defending BIG EAST Champion Orange opens its 2011 schedule at the two-day, four-game Georgia State Tournament at Bob Heck Field in Decatur, Ga. Syracuse will square off against Tennessee Tech, Morehead State and host Georgia State beginning Saturday, February 12 at 10 a.m.
Syracuse Team Notes
• The Orange returns all nine starters, its top two pitchers and 15 letter winners from last years team.
• The 2010 squad won the program's first BIG EAST Championship and made the first NCAA Regional appearance in program history.
• Fifth-seeded Syracuse became the lowest seed in BIG EAST Championship history to win the conference crown, defeating No. 4 Villanova, No. 1 DePaul and No. 3 Louisville en route to the title.
• Last year's squad set SU program records in games played (58), at bats (1,504), doubles (82), walks (195) and stolen bases (72).
Syracuse Individual Notes
• Lisaira Daniels, Jenna Caira and Stephanie Watts have been named captains for the 2011 season, as voted on by their teammates.
• Lisaira Daniels and Veronica Grant both earned 2010 NFCA All-Region honors.
• Jenna Caira was named BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Player while she, Kelly Saco, Hallie Gibbs, Stacy Kuwik, Lacey Kohl were named to the all-tournament team.
• Caira and Daniels earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors while Kuwik was named to the All-BIG EAST Third Team.
• Sisters Shirley and Lisaira Daniels reunite in the Orange outfield, returning to their home state of Georgia for opening weekend. The duo attended high school in Newnan, Ga., approximately 45 minutes outside of Decatur.
• Second baseman Watts enters the season tied for first on the career record list in triples (7).
• Lisaira Daniels enters the season as SU's career leader in batting average (.345) and stolen bases (42).
• Third baseman Gibbs is Syracuse's career leader in walks (76).
• Caira enters the 2011 season as SU's career leader in strikeouts per seven innings pitched (8.37).
A Look at the Opponents
Tennessee Tech
• Tennessee Tech finished the 2010 season 28-30 overall and 11-12 in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC).
• All 21 TTU players are eligible to return in 2011
• Hollie Thomas, the Golden Eagles ace pitcher who was named to the OVC All-Tournament team in 2010, will look to improve on last year's 16-14 mark ... In 37 appearances as a sophomore, Thomas had an ERA of 2.81 with 143 strikeouts and four shutouts.
• Utility player Melody Christian returns in 2011 after leading the team with 189 at bats, 62 hits and a .328 batting average as a freshman.
Morehead State
• Morehead State placed third in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in 2010, finishing 27-24 overall and 14-9 in the conference.
• The Eagles, who have yet to win a conference title in program history, were knocked out of the double-elimination 2010 OVC Tournament with back-to-back losses to Tennessee Tech and Eastern Illinois.
• The squad will return in 2011 will six of its nine starters from last season.
• Senior Rebecca Butler and sophomores Kayla Ashbrook and Amber Riddle look to lead Morehead after earning All-OVC Second Team accolades in 2010 ... Riddle, who hit eight homeruns and tallied 34 RBI, was also named OVC Freshman of the Year.
Georgia State
• In 2010, the Panthers finished second in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) regular season standings, going 37-19 overall and 14-7 in conference.
• The squad welcomes five newcomers in 2011 after losing four starters from last season.
• Georgia State advanced to the finals of the CAA Tournament last season, but was defeated by Hofstra.
• Sophomore southpaw McCall Langford returns to lead the Panthers' defensive effort in 2011 after earning CAA All-Rookie Team honors and tallying a 15-5 record as a freshman with just a 1.41 ERA.
• Lauren Jones, a 2010 All-CAA Second Team selection, is the team's most intimidating returning hitter, as she recorded a .293 batting average with nine homeruns last season.
Series Notes
• Syracuse is 1-2 against the tournament field, having never faced Morehead State previously
• The Orange has a 1-1 record against Georgia State, meeting the Panthers in neutral site encounters in both 2006 and 2007
• SU and Tennessee Tech met once previously, during SU's inagural season in 2000 where the Golden Eagles won, 5-0.
