Orange Return to Durham for Big Ten/ACC Challenge

BIG TEN/ACC CHALLENGE
SYRACUSE VS. RUTGERS
Game Details: Friday, Feb. 14 -- 3 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 15 -- 3 p.m.
Location: Durham, N.C.
Feb. 14 Game Links: Watch | Live Stats
Feb. 15 Game Links: Watch | Live Stats
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats
Rutgers Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats (PDF)

SYRACUSE VS. INDIANA
Game Details: Saturday, Feb. 15 -- 10 a.m.; Sunday, Feb. 16 -- 10 a.m.
Location: Durham, N.C.
Feb. 15 Game Links: Watch | Live Stats
Feb. 16 Game Links: Watch | Live Stats
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats
Indiana Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats

Twitter: @CuseSB

DURHAM, N.C. – For the second consecutive season, Syracuse softball (2-1) heads down to Durham for its second weekend of play for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Orange and the Duke Blue Devils will each play a pair of contests against Rutgers (3-2) and Indiana (2-3), 'Cuse beginning with a matchup against the Scarlet Knights on Friday at 3 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
Syracuse opened its campaign at the Felsberg Invitational in Miami last weekend. The Orange went 2-1 on the trip with a walk-off win against Penn State, 5-4, a tight loss to tournament host Florida International, 2-1, and a win against Michigan State, 5-1.

'Cuse infielder Gabby Teran had the most productive offensive performance for the Orange, leading the squad with four hits, a .364 batting average and a .818 slugging percentage. Her and Alexis Kaiser each drove in a team-leading three runs and Teran was named as one of four infielders to the All-Tournament team.

The circle was shared by ace Alexa Romero and freshman Kaia Oliver. Romero left Miami with a 2-0 record after tossing 12 innings and holding the hitters she faced to a .190 average. The lefthander now has 44 wins in her Syracuse career, which ranks third in program history.

Oliver allowed two earned runs in a complete game in her debut against FIU. She also provided three scoreless innings in relief of Romero in the win over the Spartans, surrendering one hit and recording two strikeouts.

SCOUTING THE SCARLET KNIGHTS
Rutgers opened the 2020 campaign at the "Bash in the 'Boro", hosted by Georgia Southern, going 3-2 in five games. The Scarlet Knights topped East Tennessee State twice, including a nine-inning triumph on Sunday, 3-2. They also edged Hartford, 3-2, and took losses to Army and the host Eagles.

The 2019 season was Rutgers' most successful season since 2015, finishing with a 29-26 record and an 11-12 mark in the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights set a program record in home runs last season with 54.

Freshman Ashley Hitchcock paced Rutgers with a .429 batting average on opening weekend, and was tied with sophomore Aleah Marra and graduate student Gabrielle Callaway with six hits in the five games. Senior Anyssa Iliopoulos led the Scarlet Knights with a pair of home runs.

Hitchcock and Jaden Vickers spent most of the innings in the circle for Rutgers at Georgia Southern. Vickers tossed 14.1 innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out 23 batters, while Hitchcock punched out nine hitters and surrendered nine earned runs in 15 frames.

Syracuse has won four straight decisions against the Scarlet Knights and hold a 22-5-1 overall record in the all-time series. The last Rutgers victory came on April 21, 2012, by a score of 3-1.

SCOUTING THE HOOSIERS
Indiana kicked off the season in Orlando, Fla. at the "Black and Gold Tournament" hosted by Central Florida. The Hoosiers dropped their first three contests before defeating St. John's and Clemson to finish with a 2-3 record.

Junior infielder Grayson Radcliffe led Indiana in batting average (.385) and hits (5), while Hannah Davis, Annika Baez and Desiree Dufek each drove in three runs. Senior Bella Norton's two doubles were the most extra base hits by any Hoosier.

Senior Emily Goodin pitched 21.1 of 29.1 innings for Indiana in Orlando, finishing with a 2-2 record and 22 strikeouts. The 90 batters that she faced hit for a .211 average and scored eight earned runs.

The Orange are winless in three meetings with the Hoosiers. Two of the losses came in the 2019 Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

For continued coverage of Syracuse softball, follow us on Twitter (@CuseSB), Instagram (@cusesb) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse University Softball).

Orange Return to Durham for Big Ten/ACC Challenge

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Players Mentioned

Alexis Kaiser

Kaia Oliver

Alexa Romero

Gabby Teran

Syracuse University Athletics