Orange Continue Homestand against #19 Irish

Syracuse vs. Notre Dame
Friday, March 25, 2016 | 3:30 p.m.
Skytop Softball Stadium
Live Stats

Syracuse vs. Notre Dame (DH)
Saturday, March 26, 2016 | 10 a.m. / 12 p.m.
Skytop Softball Stadium
Live Stats

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse softball team returns to ACC play this weekend, taking on No. 19 Notre Dame in a single game on Friday, Mar. 25, starting at 3:30 p.m. at Skytop Softball Stadium. The Orange conclude the weekend in a doubleheader matchup against the Irish on Saturday, Mar. 26, starting at 10 a.m.

Syracuse made a successful home debut this past Wednesday, sweeping in-state foe Niagara in doubleheader action. The Orange outscored the Purple Eagles 12-1 on the day, registering a 7-1 victory in the first game and a 5-0 shutout in the latter game. The two victories improved the Orange's record to .500 (14-14) on the season heading into this weekend.

PREVIEWING NOTRE DAME (23-3, 3-0 ACC)
The No. 19 Fighting Irish boast a 23-3 record, with its three losses coming in the first two weekends of the season, all against ranked opponents at the time (Kentucky, California, and Washington). The Irish began ACC play two weekends ago at Virginia, picking up 9-2, 7-3, and 16-3 wins against the Cavaliers.
The Orange look to break the Irish's current 19-game winning streak and improve its overall series record, a record in which Notre Dame holds a 23-5 advantage in.

Irish Karley Wester, Melissa Rochford, and Ali Wester all rank in the top five in the ACC in batting average and hits. K. Wester ranks second in batting average (.470) and ranks first in the conference with 47 hits so far on the season. Pitcher Allie Rhodes ranks third in the ACC in wins with 11, while fellow pitcher Rachel Nasland ranks fourth in the conference in ERA (1.52), right behind Orange Sydney O'Hara.

MID-WEEK RECAP
The Orange are coming off of a doubleheader sweep in its home debut against Niagara this past Wednesday, defeating the Purple Eagles 7-1 and 5-0.

Sophomore Sammy Fernandez tallied three hits and one RBI apiece in each of the games, finishing the doubleheader with a 6-8 performance at the plate, including a triple in the first game. Freshman Andrea Bombace was responsible for four of the six total RBIs in the first game, following a grand slam home run in the third inning.

Sophomore pitcher AnnaMarie Gatti was just shy of a no hitter in the second game, holding Niagara hitless until the top of the sixth inning. She tossed a full seven innings, allowing no runs and one hit while retiring eight batters. The 5-0 win in the second game marked Syracuse's sixth shutout victory of the season and first time the Orange have allowed its opponent just one hit in a game this season.

OUTSTANDING O'HARA
Junior Sydney O'Hara is a multifaceted force to be reckoned with so far on the 2016 season. The pitcher stands at third in the ACC and 27th in the nation in earned run average (1.44), and is currently holding opposing teams to an impressive .165 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 (22). Her average hits allowed per seven innings (3.95) is also good for second in the conference and 17th in the nation.

In addition to pitching, the Cicero, N.Y. native also brings her hitting abilities to the table. She's garnered 19 hits so far on the season, including two doubles, one triple, and two home runs while reeling in 11 RBI. Her 19 hits are the fourth-best on the Orange squad, while her 11 RBI are tied for second-best on the team.

SLAMMIN' SAMMY FERNANDEZ
Sophomore Sammy Fernandez leads the 2016 Orange with 29 hits so far on the season, including four doubles and two triples. She has posted at least one hit in 11 of the last 15 games, while tallying multiple-hit games seven times this season. Her .315 batting average and her .347 on base percentage are the second and third-best marks on the team.

QUICK HITS
- 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 .698 slugging percentage, .349 batting average, and .396 on base percentage.
- Of her 15 total hits, two have been doubles, two triples, and three home runs.

UP NEXT
Syracuse hosts Hofstra next week in a doubleheader matchup on Tuesday, March 29, starting at 2 p.m. at Skytop Softball Stadium.

For all of the latest information on Syracuse softball, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Softball), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseSB), and Instagram (@cusepics & @cusesb).

Syracuse University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Andrea Bombace

Alyssa Dewes

Sammy Fernandez

AnnaMarie Gatti

Sydney O'Hara

Corinne Ozanne

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