'Cuse Set for Home Series against Georgia Tech

Syracuse vs. Georgia Tech (Doubleheader)
Saturday, April 2, 2016 | 1 p.m. / 3 p.m.
Skytop Softball Stadium
Live Stats

Syracuse vs. Georgia Tech
Sunday, April 3, 2016 | 12 p.m.
Skytop Softball Stadium
Live Stats

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse softball team continues its conference swing this weekend, hosting Georgia Tech in a three-game series at Skytop Softball Stadium. The Orange begin the weekend with a doubleheader contest against the Yellow Jackets on Saturday, Apr. 2 starting at 1 p.m. The weekend concludes with a single game match-up on Sunday at 12 p.m.

PREVIEWING GEORGIA TECH (13-20, 2-7 ACC)
The Yellow Jackets post a 13-20 record and a 2-7 conference record, dropping four of its last five games, including a 1-2 finish in last weekend's series against Virginia Tech.

The Orange and the Yellow Jackets hold each other at a 2-2 record in the series, with the last meeting taking place two seasons ago in the Orange's first ACC matchup against Tech. Syracuse came out on top in the first two games of the series 1-0 and 5-4, before Tech came bouncing back in the final game in a 15-3 run-rule. Prior to that, the programs had only met in the Orange's second season of existence in 2002, where the Yellow Jackets claimed a 6-4 victory at the National Invitational Softball Tournament.

Tech pitcher Emily Anderson ranks fourth in the ACC in strikeouts (106) and third in innings pitched (139).

WEEKEND RECAP
The Orange experienced a 13-spot RPI jump as a result of this past weekend, taking the series against No. 19 Notre Dame 2-1 with 5-2 and 6-4 victories in the first and final games. Prior to last weekend, Syracuse sat at the 83rd spot in the first RPI rankings of the 2016 season and are now 71st in this week's edition.

With the two victories over the weekend, the Orange registered its first series win against a ranked opponent since the end of the 2012 season, when 'Cuse defeated No. 16 South Florida two games to one.

The Syracuse offense put on a show as a part of the series takeover, as the Orange accumulated 15 hits on the weekend with a homer from senior Corinne Ozanne and clutch hits from freshman Hannah Dossett, Alicia Hansen, and sophomore Maddi Doane.

LET'S GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT: THE 'CUSE DEFENSE
The Syracuse pitching brigade posts a third-best in the ACC and 18th in the nation 2.23 earned run average, with junior Sydney O'Hara leading the pack sitting at third in the conference standings with a 1.51 ERA. The squad has only allowed opponents 83 runs and 176 hits on the season, the third and fourth best marks in the ACC.

The Orange's .969 fielding percentage places them at second in the ACC right behind Notre Dame. Opponents have been found guilty of stealing by the Orange eight times this season, the second-best stat in the ACC. Syracuse also ranks third in the conference and 42nd in the nation in double plays, averaging .42 per game. After 31 games, six Orange still hold perfect fielding percentages, while no individual percentage dips below a .929. The trio of Sammy Fernandez, Corinne Ozanne, and Alicia Hansen have been a part of 18 of the Orange's 27 double plays, with Fernandez leading the pack with seven double plays.

QUICK HITS
- Freshman Hannah Dossett came up big in the second game against Notre Dame, going 3-3 at the plate to finish the day with one double, one triple, and two RBIs. Freshman Alicia Hansen and sophomore Maddi Doane tallied two hits apiece on the day, with Doane registering two doubles in the latter game to finish with two RBIs.
- Senior Corinne Ozanne tallied her seventh home run of the season and 43rd of her career in the first game against the Irish. She is now just three home runs shy of tying the Syracuse all-time career record of 46 homers.
- Sophomore AnnaMarie Gatti notched her seventh win of the season in the circle in the second game in the 'Cuse/Notre Dame series, throwing seven innings while allowing four hits and retiring three batters.

UP NEXT
The Syracuse softball team heads back on the road, matching up against local opponent Binghamton on Wednesday, Apr. 6, in a doubleheader match-up starting at 2 p.m.

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

Maddi Doane

Hannah Dossett

Sammy Fernandez

AnnaMarie Gatti

Alicia Hansen

Sydney O'Hara

Corinne Ozanne

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