Syracuse Returns To New York For Doubleheader At Canisius

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse softball is back in the Empire State, as the Orange travel to Buffalo on Wednesday, Mar. 22 for a doubleheader against Canisius. Game one is slated for a 2 p.m. start at Demske Sports Complex, while first pitch for game two is estimated for 4:30 p.m. Both games will be streaming live on ESPN+.

ORANGE UPDATE:

Syracuse (7-14, 0-6 Atlantic Coast) lost all three games against defending ACC champion No. 6 Florida State (25-6, 3-0) over the weekend.
Florida State's pitching staff, led by two-time All-American Kathryn Sandercock, posted a 0.41 earned run average over the weekend.
Sophomore infielder Tessa Galipeau posted her third extra base hit of the season against the Seminoles on Saturday, Mar. 18.
Sophomore outfielder Angie Ramos is orchestrating a breakout campaign. The San Diego, Calif. native leads the Orange in batting average (.308) and is tied for the team lead in hits (16).
Freshman Madison Knight leads 'Cuse in the circle, as the two-time Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year has a team-leading 3.95 earned run average.
The 2023 Orange are the youngest team in the ACC, as freshman make up 42 percent of the roster (10-of-24).
Syracuse is one of the stronger defensive sides in the conference, ranking sixth in fielding percentage (.964) and fourth in errors (20). Last season, 'Cuse ranked tenth in fielding percentage (.962) and sixth in errors (47).

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GRIFFINS:

Canisius (10-9, 0-0 MAAC) checks in at 126 in the latest RPI rankings from the NCAA.
The Golden Griffins split a two-game set at the Penn State Invitational. A 2-0 shutout of fellow New York program Cornell was followed by 7-0 loss against Penn State. The win over the Big Red was the 1,000^th win in program history.
2022 MAAC Co-Rookie of the Year and All-MAAC First Team selection Saige Alfaro leads Canisius in batting average (.368), hits (21) and doubles (4).
The Orange can expect to face 2022 MAAC Pitcher of the Year Megan Giese. Across 11 appearances this season, the sophomore has logged team-highs in innings pitched (57.2) and strikeouts (52), while posting a team-leading 3.03 earned run average.
Head coach Kim Griffin is in her ninth season as head coach of the Golden Griffins. A graduate of Mercyhurst, Griffin led Canisius to the 2022 MAAC Championship crown and its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012.

THE SERIES:

Syracuse and Canisius have met 27 times on the softball field, as the Orange lead the all-time series, 20-7.
The two programs last met at Skytop Softball Stadium in 2022, as a doubleheader was split. The Golden Griffins edged the Orange, 4-3, in game one. The Syracuse bats exploded in a 12-1 run-rule victory in game two.
Over the past ten games in the series, Syracuse holds a 9-1 record.

UP NEXT:

The Orange stay on the road for an ACC set against Notre Dame from Mar. 24 – Mar. 26. Friday and Saturday's games will be streamed on ACC Netowrk Extra, while Sunday's series finale will be televised nationally on ACC Network. Syracuse opens its home schedule on Friday, Mar. 31 at 3 p.m. against Louisville.