Friday, February 15
Durham, N.C.
12 pm
Syracuse University
vs
Penn State
Softball Returns to ACC/Big Ten Challenge
2/14/2019 4:46:00 PM | Softball
| Syracuse at Grand Canyon Kickoff Tournament | Notes | ||
| Feb. 15 vs. Penn State | 12 p.m. | Live Stats | Watch | @CuseSB | |
| Feb. 15 vs. #24/RV Indiana | 5 p.m. | Live Stats | Watch | @CuseSB | |
| Feb. 16 vs. Penn State | 3 p.m. | Live Stats | | Watch | @CuseSB | |
| Feb. 17 vs. #24/RV Indiana | 10 a.m. | Live Stats | Watch | @CuseSB | |
DURHAM, N.C. – For the first time since 2016, the Syracuse softball team is set to take part in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Feb. 15-17. The event, in its fourth year, features 10 schools from each conference playing games at four campus sites, while two more compete at the inaugural ESPN St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational in Clearwater, Fla.
The ACC seeks to take its third-straight Challenge title after posting an overall mark of 26-14 in 2018. Syracuse participated in the inaugural event in 2016, going 3-1 against Purdue and Ohio State.
Syracuse opens up play Friday, Feb. 15 at 12 p.m. against Penn State and end the day with a matchup against No. 24/RV Indiana at 5 p.m. The Orange return on Saturday for a rematch against Penn State at 3 p.m., before concluding the weekend with its second matchup against Indiana at 10 a.m. on Sunday. All four games are scheduled to be broadcast on ACC Network Extra. Due to expected weather, the original game times and dates have been changed. Stay tuned to cuse.com and @CuseSB for any additional updates.
The Orange opened the Shannon Doepking era last weekend with a 1-3 record at the GCU Kickoff Tournament. 'Cuse opened strong offensively against San Diego State, tallying six runs on four hits in the second inning, before dropping a heartbreaker in the seventh as the Aztecs walked-off to a 9-8 victory. Syracuse looked to bounce back against #4 Oklahoma with a solid 3.2 innings of work in the circle from Miranda Hearn, who was equaled by the Sooners' Mariah Lopez. Lopez threw a one-hitter to hold off the Orange until OU added four runs in the seventh inning. Oklahoma took its second victory over the Orange in just as many days, with a 9-1 five-inning win on Saturday. Syracuse closed out the weekend with an eight-inning walk-off victory against Grand Canyon Saturday night. Freshman Alexis Kaiser recorded her first collegiate hit on a two-run home run before Gabby Teran hit the walk-off single to give the Orange their first victory of 2019.
Penn State opened their season at the Florida Gulf Coast Kickoff Classic. The Nittany Lions won their season opener against Kent State, 10-2, in six innings. Penn State then lost its next four games of the weekend including a pair of games to Kent State and a rematch against Ball State. Penn State holds a 7-3 advantage in the series history against Syracuse while Friday marks the first meeting between the two teams since 2010.
After opening the season 5-0, Indiana jumped into the USA Today/NFCA poll for the first time since 1996. The Hoosiers defeated Virginia and St. John's in five innings while also taking victories over Bethune-Cookman, Florida Atlantic and #6 Georgia. The win over Georgia is the highest ranked victory for Indiana since 2011 and pushed the Hoosiers to their best start in program history since 1990. Friday marks the second all-time meeting between the two programs. The lone matchup between Syracuse and Indiana came in 2008, where the Hoosiers came out on top, 3-2.
Following the ACC/BIG10 Challenge, the Orange head to Gainesville, Fla. for the Bubly Invitational Feb. 22-24. Syracuse will play five games in three days against Illinois State, Florida A&M and host, Florida.
Players Mentioned
Syracuse Softball
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