Friday, May 18
Tempe, Ariz.
6:30 p.m.
Syracuse University
vs
Long Beach State
SU and LBSU meet on Friday at 6:30 p.m. EST
Softball Begins NCAA Action on Friday
5/17/2012 2:08:46 AM | Softball
Game Notes | Tempe Bracket | 2012 Tournament Bracket | Championship Central | Tickets | Watch
TEMPE, Ariz. – The Syracuse University softball team (40-14) begins its quest for the Women's College World Series on Friday afternoon as the Orange opens the NCAA Tournament against Long Beach State (28-23) at Farrington Stadium on the campus of Arizona State.
First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. PST/6:30 p.m. EST. Fans can watch a live web-stream, follow live stats and interact with an in-game blog for all SU games this weekend in Tempe. Updates will also be available via Twitter - @Cuse.
The host Sun Devils will play LIU Brooklyn in Friday's night cap. The Tempe Regional, one of 16 across the nation, is a double-elimination format and one of these four teams will advance to the Super Regional.
SYRACUSE'S ROAD TO TEMPE:
The Orange received an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history this season. This is the third straight year the Orange has appeared in the tournament and just the second time in its history SU has reached the 40-win plateau. SU is 12-9 this season against NCAA Tournament qualifiers.
Its 17 BIG EAST Conference victories was the most league wins the Orange has ever achieved. Syracuse is led into the tournament by First Team All-BIG EAST performers Stephanie Watts and Veronica Grant, along with all-conference pitchers Jenna Caira and Stacy Kuwik.
The Orange pitching staff has been a consistent force all season. SU ranks 19th nationally in ERA, while Caira and Kuwik boast a 1.56 and a 1.58 ERA, respectively. At the plate, the Orange has been in the top 20 all season for home runs per game average. This week SU checks in at No. 16 with a 1.17 average.
SCOUTING THE FIELD:
Arizona State – Pac-12 – 46-7: Arizona State, the defending National Champions, is the No. 3 overall seed in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. The Sun Devils defeated Florida last season in Oklahoma City for the university's second national title.
Ten Sun Devils were recognized by the Pac-12, led by first-team performers Katelyn Boyd, Dallas Escobedo, Alix Johnson and Annie Lockwood. Escobedo, a sophomore pitcher, led the Sun Devils to the national title a season ago as a freshman and has a 20-4 record this season. Fellow pitcher Hillary Bach is 19-1 overall with a 1.68 ERA.
Arizona state ranks third nationally with a team batting average of .343 and is second in the country averaging 7.28 runs per game. Boyd leads the offensive charge with a .457 average which is fifth highest in the nation.
Long Beach State – Big West Conference – 28-23
The 49ers captured the Big West title in the last game of the season with a 4-2 victory against Pacific. Sophomore Sarah Carrasco smacked a three-run homer to lift LBSU past the Tigers. This is the 49ers 21st appearance in the NCAA Tournament and it's second in as many years.
Four LBSU players bat over .300, led by Hannah De Gaetano who hit .337 in the regular-season. She and Shayna Kimbrough are the only two student-athletes on the team to play in and start all 51 games. Erin Jones-Wesley has done the majority of the work for Long Beach in the circle. She has an overall record of 20-12 with a 1.97 ERA.
LIU Brooklyn – Northeast Conference – 25-33
Long Island defeated Quinnipac 10-5 in the NEC Championship game for its 13th tournament title in program history. Sterling Hoham was named Tournament MVP with a .545 batting average with four RBI in three games.
Nichole Toven paces the offense with a .320 batting average. Cassie Vondrak is the leader in the circle with a 12-6 record and a 4.15 ERA.
TEMPE, Ariz. – The Syracuse University softball team (40-14) begins its quest for the Women's College World Series on Friday afternoon as the Orange opens the NCAA Tournament against Long Beach State (28-23) at Farrington Stadium on the campus of Arizona State.
First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. PST/6:30 p.m. EST. Fans can watch a live web-stream, follow live stats and interact with an in-game blog for all SU games this weekend in Tempe. Updates will also be available via Twitter - @Cuse.
The host Sun Devils will play LIU Brooklyn in Friday's night cap. The Tempe Regional, one of 16 across the nation, is a double-elimination format and one of these four teams will advance to the Super Regional.
SYRACUSE'S ROAD TO TEMPE:
The Orange received an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history this season. This is the third straight year the Orange has appeared in the tournament and just the second time in its history SU has reached the 40-win plateau. SU is 12-9 this season against NCAA Tournament qualifiers.
Its 17 BIG EAST Conference victories was the most league wins the Orange has ever achieved. Syracuse is led into the tournament by First Team All-BIG EAST performers Stephanie Watts and Veronica Grant, along with all-conference pitchers Jenna Caira and Stacy Kuwik.
The Orange pitching staff has been a consistent force all season. SU ranks 19th nationally in ERA, while Caira and Kuwik boast a 1.56 and a 1.58 ERA, respectively. At the plate, the Orange has been in the top 20 all season for home runs per game average. This week SU checks in at No. 16 with a 1.17 average.
SCOUTING THE FIELD:
Arizona State – Pac-12 – 46-7: Arizona State, the defending National Champions, is the No. 3 overall seed in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. The Sun Devils defeated Florida last season in Oklahoma City for the university's second national title.
Ten Sun Devils were recognized by the Pac-12, led by first-team performers Katelyn Boyd, Dallas Escobedo, Alix Johnson and Annie Lockwood. Escobedo, a sophomore pitcher, led the Sun Devils to the national title a season ago as a freshman and has a 20-4 record this season. Fellow pitcher Hillary Bach is 19-1 overall with a 1.68 ERA.
Arizona state ranks third nationally with a team batting average of .343 and is second in the country averaging 7.28 runs per game. Boyd leads the offensive charge with a .457 average which is fifth highest in the nation.
Long Beach State – Big West Conference – 28-23
The 49ers captured the Big West title in the last game of the season with a 4-2 victory against Pacific. Sophomore Sarah Carrasco smacked a three-run homer to lift LBSU past the Tigers. This is the 49ers 21st appearance in the NCAA Tournament and it's second in as many years.
Four LBSU players bat over .300, led by Hannah De Gaetano who hit .337 in the regular-season. She and Shayna Kimbrough are the only two student-athletes on the team to play in and start all 51 games. Erin Jones-Wesley has done the majority of the work for Long Beach in the circle. She has an overall record of 20-12 with a 1.97 ERA.
LIU Brooklyn – Northeast Conference – 25-33
Long Island defeated Quinnipac 10-5 in the NEC Championship game for its 13th tournament title in program history. Sterling Hoham was named Tournament MVP with a .545 batting average with four RBI in three games.
Nichole Toven paces the offense with a .320 batting average. Cassie Vondrak is the leader in the circle with a 12-6 record and a 4.15 ERA.
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