Softball Makes Home Debut in Midweek Action Against Niagara

Syracuse vs. Niagara (DH)
Wednesday, March 23 | 3 p.m. / 5 p.m.
Skytop Softball Stadium
Live Stats

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse softball team makes its long-awaited home debut after more than a month of on the road, taking on Niagara in a mid-week doubleheader match up on Wednesday, March 23, starting at 3 p.m.

The Orange are returning from a week on the road, finishing the week 4-5 against North Carolina, Savannah State, Charleston Southern, and No. 10 Florida State. Syracuse now posts a 12-14 overall record thus far on the 2016 season.

PREVIEWING NIAGARA (2-10, 0-0)
The Purple Eagles are 2-10 so far on the season, picking up a 4-1 win against Bowling Green during the first week of play and a 5-2 win against South Dakota State at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. Niagara is currently on a four game losing streak after falling to Oakland, Elon twice, and Central Connecticut State at the Elon Softball Tournament two weekends ago.

The Orange look to continue a perfect record against the Purple Eagles in the overall series, defeating Niagara in all 13 contests so far since 2005. Syracuse most recently picked up two shutout wins against Niagara last season in doubleheader action 11-0 and 13-0.

Purple Eagle Bridget Hogan leads the team with 14 hits on the season and a .378 batting average, while accumulating five doubles and three RBI.

Pitcher Sierra Bertrand holds a 2.47 ERA, responsible for the two Niagara wins in the circle. She has allowed 20 hits and 11 runs over the course of three games pitched.

WEEKEND RECAP
The Orange are coming off of a three-game series against No. 10 Florida State in ACC play, coming up short in all three games 4-2, 4-1, and 3-0.

Pitcher Jocelyn Cater held the Seminoles to just one hit and no runs in the first five innings in the final game of the series, before a Florida State rally in the bottom of the sixth inning put them on top 3-0.

Junior Alyssa Dewes finished the weekend with a .500 performance under her belt, garnering three hits off of six at bats over the course of three games, while racking up her second triple of the season in the first game. Her two triples have her tied for first in the ACC in triples.

LET'S GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT: THE 'CUSE DEFENSE
The Syracuse pitching brigade posts a third-best in the ACC and 25th in the nation 2.28 earned run average, with junior Sydney O'Hara leading the pack sitting at fourth in the conference standings with a 1.56 ERA. The squad has only allowed opponents 70 runs and 149 hits on the season, the third and fourth best marks in the ACC.

The Orange's .971 fielding percentage places them at second in the ACC right behind Notre Dame. Opponents have been found guilty of stealing by the Orange seven times this season, the second-best stat in the ACC. Syracuse also ranks second in the conference and 26th in the nation in double plays, averaging .46 per game.

After 26 games, nine Orange still hold perfect fielding percentages, while no individual percentage dips below a .923. The trio of Sammy Fernandez, Corinne Ozanne, and Alicia Hansen have been a part of 17 of the Orange's 25 double plays, with Fernandez leading the pack with seven double plays.

OH MY O'HARA
Junior Sydney O'Hara is a multifaceted force to be reckoned with so far on the 2016 season. The pitcher stands at fourth in the ACC and 35th in the nation in earned run average (1.56), and is currently holding opposing teams to an impressive .171 batting average when she is in the circle, the second-best mark in the ACC. She also leads the ACC runs allowed (9) and earned runs allowed (8), while sitting second in the conference in hits allowed (21). Her average hits allowed per seven innings (4.08) is also good for second in the conference and 18th in the nation.

In addition to pitching, the Cicero, N.Y. native also brings her hitting abilities to the table. She's garnered 18 hits so far on the season, including one double, one triple, and two home runs while reeling in 11 RBI. Her 18 hits are the fourth-best on the Orange squad, while her 11 RBI are the second-best on the team.

QUICK HITS
- Sophomore Sammy Fernandez leads the 2016 Orange with 23 hits so far on the season, including four doubles and one triple.
- She has posted at least one hit in nine of the last 13 games, while tallying multiple-hit games five times this season. Her .274 batting average and her .311 on base percentage are the third-best marks on the team.
- 2015 All-ACC honoree Corinne Ozanne leads the 2016 Orange in home runs with six so far on the season, and is just four swings away from tying the career home runs record currently held by Jasmine Watson.
- Ozanne leads the team with 19 RBIs, with almost half of her hits coming when runners are on base.
- Junior Alyssa Dewes has been a slugging machine, posting a team-best .769 slugging percentage, .385 batting average, and .432 on base percentage.
- Of her 15 total hits, two have been doubles, two triples, and three home runs.

UP NEXT
Syracuse resumes ACC play this weekend, matching up against No. 19 Notre Dame in doubleheader action on Friday, Mar. 25 starting at 2 p.m. The Orange and the Irish conclude the weekend in a single game on Saturday at noon.

Syracuse University Athletics

Softball Makes Home Debut in Midweek Action Against Niagara

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Players Mentioned

Jocelyn Cater

Alyssa Dewes

Sammy Fernandez

Alicia Hansen

Sydney O'Hara

Corinne Ozanne

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