Purdue, Iowa Await Syracuse At the ACC/Big Ten Challenge

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse softball heads to Raleigh, North Carolina for matchups against Iowa and Purdue in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Tournament play begins on Friday, Feb. 17 as Syracuse takes on the Boilermakers at 3 p.m. at Dail Softball Stadium. Saturday is headlined by a doubleheader, beginning with a 10 a.m matchup against Iowa and a 12:30 p.m. rematch against Purdue. The Orange conclude their time in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 10 a.m. against Iowa.

ORANGE UPDATE:

Syracuse heads to Raleigh with a 2-1 record, picking up wins against Jacksonville and North Florida at the River City Leadoff. The Orange lost to IUPUI, 6-5, in the season opener.
Freshman Madison Knight impressed at the plate and in the circle in Jacksonville. Over two starts, Knight pitched 10.2 innings, striking out nine batters and allowing four runs. The Baltimore, Maryland native logged four hits, three RBIs and a team-high five walks in nine at-bats.
Angel Jasso picked up where she left off in the 2022 season. The junior center fielder logged four hits, three RBIs and one home run in her nine at-bats at the River City Leadoff.
Sophomore catcher Laila Alves recorded a career-high four RBIs in the 10-4 win against North Florida.
Outfielder Taylor Posner and infielder Yamila Evans both hit their first Syracuse home runs in the 5-2 win at Jacksonville.
Junior LHP Lindsey Hendrix completed her first career save against Jacksonville. The Orlando, Florida native struck out five batters and allowed one run in her four-relief innings over the four games.
In their three games, the Orange recorded 25 hits, eight extra base hits, scored 17 runs and walked 18 times.
The Syracuse pitching staff left Jacksonville with a team-earned run average of 2.41 and 16 strikeouts.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS:

Iowa brings a 4-1 record to Raleigh. The Hawkeyes beat No. 23 Mississippi State, Loyola, Bethune Cookman and Stony Brook at the FAU Paradise Classic in Boca Raton Florida. Their only loss came to tournament hosts FAU, 4-3, in extra innings.
The Hawkeyes have a 0.61 team earned run average.
Purdue went 2-1 at the JoAnne Graf Classic in Tallahassee, Florida. The Boilermakers beat Longwood twice and lost to No. 4 Florida State, 8-1.

SERIES HISTORY:

Syracuse and Iowa meet on the softball field for the first time in 13 years. The two programs last squared off in 2010, as a two-game series was split at the FAU Parents Weekend Tournament. The Hawkeyes lead the all-time series, 3-2.

The ACC/Big Ten Challenge will mark the first ever meeting between Syracuse and Purdue.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE:

Friday, Feb. 17: vs. Purdue at 3 p.m. (Dail Softball Field)
Saturday, Feb. 18: vs. Iowa at 10 a.m. (Dail Softball Field)
Saturday, Feb. 18: vs. Purdue at 12:30 p.m. (Dail Softball Field)
Sunday, Feb. 19: vs. Iowa at 10 a.m. (Dail Softball Field)

UP NEXT:

The 2023 campaign continues in Charleston, South Carolina for the Low Country Classic from Friday, Feb. 24-Sunday, Feb. 26. The Orange will play tournament host Charleston, Robert Morris and Rutgers at the Patriots Point Athletics Complex.

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