Syracuse Heads To Jacksonville For Opening Weekend

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse softball opens the 2023 season at the River City Leadoff in Jacksonville, Florida on Friday, Feb. 10. The Orange take on IUPUI, North Florida and Jacksonville University at the UNF Softball Complex and the Debbie & Fred Pruitt Softball Complex.

'Cuse starts the season against IUPUI at 10 a.m. and finishes Opening Day against tournament hosts North Florida at 3 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 11, The Orange have a rematch against IUPUI at 11:30 a.m. before wrapping up the day against Jacksonville at 2 p.m. Syracuse's time at the River City Leadoff concludes on Sunday, Feb. 12 against North Florida at 12:30 p.m.

ORANGE UPDATE:

The Orange ended 2022 with a 26-21 record, winning the program's first ever ACC Tournament game, 2-0, against Louisville.
Syracuse returns 13 student-athletes that played in at least 50% of last season's games.
Outfielder Angel Jasso is back for her junior season. The Angleton, Texas native led 'Cuse in batting average (.365), hits (50) and stolen bases (21) in 2022. Jasso also hit for the program's first ever cycle against Southern last year.
LHP Lindsey Hendrix also returns for her junior year. She led Syracuse in ERA (2.62) and strikeouts (95) in 2022.
Head coach Shannon Doepking and her staff added 10 freshmen to the 2023 roster.
Kate Dorazio, Vanessa Flores, Madison Knight, Gabby Lantier, Madelyn Lopez, Trinity Nichols, Jackie Pengel, Peyton Schemmer and Lauren Vaughn all join Syracuse for their freshman years.
Knight, a two-time recipient of the Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year award, headlines the class as a utility fielder and pitcher.
Syracuse was selected to finish ninth in the ACC Preseason Poll.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS:

IUPUI went 12-38 last season, finishing 8^th in the Horizon League. The Jaguars return last season's batting average leader Kendal Calvert and home run leader Maicey Bedrick.
North Florida is coming off a 42-17 season, its best record since 2013. 2022 ASUN First Team selection Shannon Glover is back for her senior year after leading the Ospreys in batting average (.337), hits (62), home runs (9) and slugging percentage (.533) in 2022.
Jacksonville finished the 2022 season with a 15-31 record, its first losing season since 2019. The Dolphins went 9-15 in ASUN play last year, ending the season in last place in the ASUN East Division standings.

SERIES HISTORY:

Syracuse takes on Jacksonville for the sixth time, with 'Cuse leading the all-time series, 3-2. The Orange and the Dolphins last played in 2015, with Jacksonville sweeping the two-game series. 'Cuse last beat Jacksonville in 2012. Jenna Caira struck out three batters over four innings, as RBIs from Carey-Leigh Thomas and Lisaira Daniels made the difference in the 2-1 win on Mar. 17, 2012.

The Orange take on North Florida and IUPUI for the first time on the softball diamond.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE:

Friday, Feb. 10: vs. IUPUI at 10 am (UNF Softball Complex)
Friday, Feb. 10: at North Florida at 3 p.m. (UNF Softball Complex)
Saturday, Feb. 11: vs. IUPUI at 11:30 a.m. (Debbie & Fred Pruitt Softball Complex)
Saturday, Feb. 11: at Jacksonville at 2 p.m. (Debbie & Fred Pruitt Softball Complex)
Sunday, Feb. 12: at North Florida at 12:30 p.m. (UNF Softball Complex)

UP NEXT:

Following its trip to Jacksonville, the Orange will head to NC State's campus in Raleigh, North Carolina from Friday, Feb. 17-Sunday, Feb. 19 for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge against Iowa and Purdue.

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