Syracuse Opens 2024 Season at Kickin’ Chicken Classic

CONWAY, S.C. – Syracuse begins the 2024 campaign at the Kickin' Chicken Classic in Conway, S.C., on Friday, Feb. 9. The Orange take on Bucknell, host Coastal Carolina, Campbell and George Washington at St. John Stadium.

Syracuse starts the year against the Bison at 12:30 p.m., followed by a nightcap against the tournament host Chanticleers at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 10., the Orange take on the Camels at 10 a.m. before concluding the opening weekend on Sunday, Feb. 11., against George Washington at 11:15 a.m. and Campbell at 1:30 p.m.

ORANGE UPDATE:

Syracuse finished the 2023 campaign with a 24-26-1 record. The Orange earned a spot in the ACC Tournament and won a first-round game for the second straight season.
The Orange return nearly their entire offensive lineup from 2023, bringing back 87.8-percent of the team's hits (294 of 335) and 88.9-percent of the runs scored (177 of 199).
In the circle, Syracuse welcomes back 90.5-percent of the team's innings pitched (298.1 of 330.2) and 92.5-percent of the strikeouts (235 of 254).
Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman Madison Knight returns for her second season in Orange. The two-way star posted a 13-8 record with a 2.99 ERA in 147.1 innings along with a team-best 28 RBI at the plate.
Knight and southpaw Lindsey Hendrix tossed no-hitters in 2023, marking the first time in program history multiple pitchers threw no-hitters in the same season.
Head Coach Shannon Doepking welcomes five newcomers to the 2024 roster: two freshmen and three transfers. Catcher Taylor Davison and infielder Makenzie Foster enter the season as first years while sophomore Julianna Verni (Purdue), junior Britney Lewinski (Seminole State) and graduate student Jessie DiPasquale (UMass-Amherst) join the pitching staff as transfers.
Syracuse was selected to finish tenth in the ACC Preseason Poll.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS:

Bucknell went 16-30 last season, finishing fourth in the Patriot League. Catcher Zoie Smith was selected to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team after leading the Bison with a .353 batting average in 2023.
Coastal Carolina is coming off a 36-20 campaign, its best record since 2019. National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Central Region third team member Delaney Keith returns for her sophomore season. Keith had 14 doubles and 11 home runs with a .333 average in 56 games with the Chanticleers.
Campbell posted a 42-18 record en route to its third straight Big South Championship. The Camels joined the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) on July 1, 2023. Pitcher Isabella Smith earned NFCA All-Southeast Region third team. Smith went 29-12 with a 2.06 ERA and 241 strikeouts in 241.1 innings in the circle.
George Washington finished 2023 with a 17-28 record. The Revolutionaries went 7-19 in A10 play last season under head coach Chrissy Schoonmaker.

SERIES HISTORY:
Syracuse plays Bucknell, Coastal Carolina and George Washington for the first time in program history. The Orange have faced 10 of the 24 opponents this season one or fewer times in program history. Of the 10 opponents, Syracuse squares off with four of them for the first time.

Syracuse holds a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series with Campbell, defeating the Camels 7-5 on March 5, 2010 and 7-6 on March 12, 2014. The Orange lost, 3-2, in the most recent meeting on March 13, 2021.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE:

Friday, Feb. 9: vs. Bucknell at 12:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 9: at Coastal Carolina at 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 10: vs. Campbell at 10 a.m.
Sunday, Feb. 11: vs. George Washington at 11:15 a.m.
Sunday, Feb. 11: vs. Campbell at 1:30 p.m.

UP NEXT:
The Orange head back south for their first of back-to-back weekends in Louisiana, beginning at the Southeastern Louisiana Lion Classic, Feb. 16 and 17. Syracuse will play Maryland, Southeastern Louisiana and Southeast Missouri State in Hammond, La.

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