Syracuse Softball Year-By-Year History - Syracuse University Athletics

2000
Syracuse University played its inaugural season, recording a successful 24-23-1 overall record. The team celebrated the opening of the Softball Stadium at Skytop on April 6 with a doubleheader sweep of Binghamton University, 10-3 and 2-1. It was a season of firsts, as freshman hurler Tara DiMaggio pitched a perfect five-inning contest against Buffalo and Missy Bieman launched the club's first home run. Lindsay Richards topped the offensive stats, posing a .305 batting average while compiling a .364 on-base percentage. Cheryl Julicher blasted the most home runs, smacking four while tallying 18 RBI's, second only to Jackie Herrman's 22 RBIs.

2001
In their first season of play in The BIG EAST Conference, the Orangewomen finished 19-28 overall, and 6-14 in league. Pitcher Heather Brown tied the NCAA Division I record for most strikeouts in a game of nine innings or less, recording 21 strikeouts in SU's 1-0 nine-inning victory versus Colgate on April 10. Christina Holowich led the Orangewomen, setting seven single-season school records, including batting average (.316), at-bats (158), hits (50), triples (3), total bases (60), multi-hit games (14) and three-hit games (3). Holowich also led the team with a .380 slugging percentage and a .344 on-base percentage. Following the season she became the first Orangewoman to earn all-conference honors after being named second-team All-BIG EAST. Brown led the pitching staff with 10 wins and 180 strikeouts, while Tara DiMaggio had the squad's best ERA at 1.51. Despite losing four starters because of injuries, Syracuse posted a 14-12 mark in its final 26 games.

2002
The Orangewomen set a school record with 25 victories (25-21) in 2002. In only its second season in the league, Syracuse posted a 12-6 BIG EAST mark, finishing third in the conference and qualifying for the program's first-ever BIG EAST Tournament. The Orangewomen offense stole the show in 2002, setting numerous school records, including batting average (.280), runs (193), hits (352), doubles (62), home runs (25), total bases (503) and on-base percentage (.337). Freshman outfielder Tanya Rose racked up the individual awards. She became the fourth player in conference history to be selected BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, All-BIG EAST First Team and BIG EAST All-Rookie in the same season. Rose set SU single-season records for hits (54), total bases (77), on-base percentage (.422), stolen bases (13) and multi-hit games (19). She also set Orangewomen freshman records with two triples, a .538 slugging percentage and 26 RBI. Junior designated player Julie Dunn was also a first-team All-BIG EAST selection after hitting a career-best five home runs and driving in 22 runs. Both Rose and Dunn were named to the All-Northeast Region First Team. Junior outfielder Kristen Collins was a second-team all-region after setting a school-record with a .387 batting average. Senior pitcher Heather Brown was a second-team All-BIG EAST pick with seven wins and 68 strikeouts in nine conference starts. Overall, Brown led the pitching staff in victories (10), complete games (16), shutouts (5), innings pitched (142.2), saves (1) and strikeouts (138). Freshman catcher Katie Kaempfer was chosen to the all-rookie squad. She set a school record with 13 doubles and hit five home runs. Sophomore first baseman Cheryl Julicher produced the most runs of any SU player in the program's history, setting school records for home runs (9), runs scored (28) and runs batted in (27).

2003
The Orangewomen completed their fourth season with an overall record of 17-25 and a BIG EAST mark of 7-13. The 2003 campaign marked the final season for SU's first class of four-year seniors Kristen Collins, Tara DiMaggio, Julie Dunn and Tara DiMaggio. Redshirt junior Rachel Park, also a member of SU's first recruiting class, was named second-team All-Northeast Region after leading the team in average (.382) and hits (52). Park also smacked a career-high four home runs and became the first player in SU history with two career four-hit games. A pair of players earned All-BIG EAST honors. Sophomore Tanya Rose was named second-team all-conference after hitting .316 with a team-best 26 runs scored and a career-high seven home runs. Frehsman Alexis Switenko was a member of the BIG EAST All-Rookie Team. Switenko tied the school record with nine homers, including a pair of multi-home run games. She set the school record for home runs in a doubleheader (3) and RBIs in a doubleheader (8) in Syracuse's sweep at Providence on April 6. The Orangewomen recorded their first victory versus a ranked opponent, knocking off #24 Massachusetts, 4-2, on March 16.

2004

The Orange finished the 2004 campaign with a 25-29 overall record and a 9-11 BIG EAST mark. SU recorded a victory against 13^th-ranked Cal State Fullerton in February and set a school record with six consecutive wins from March 19-April 2. The Orange captured two tournament titles during the season, winning the Mardi Gras Mambo hosted by Nicholls State and the Mizuno Bash at the Beach hosted by Delaware State. Several records went by the wayside as the season was highlighted by some tremendous individual achievements. Sophomore shortstop Alexis Switenko led the team with a .327 batting average and posted school-record totals in RBI (40), home runs (9), total bases (94) and slugging percentage (.580). Sophomore Cassie Morales and junior Tanya Rose each hit .318 and tied for the team lead with an SU-record 55 hits. Morales also bested the school single-season record with 18 doubles. Rose established a new mark, scoring 41 runs during the campaign. Junior Tiffany Robinson rounded out the SU offensive leaders, hitting .312 (43-for-138). She also stole nine bases in nine attempts. Freshman pitcher Courtney Mosch went 17-15, breaking the Orange’s season victories mark. She also led the team with a 1.81 ERA, five shutouts and a record 197.2 innings pitched. Senior Haley Larsen won eight games, including three shutouts. She started a school-record 28 games during the season. Four Orange players were named All-BIG EAST. Rose and Switenko were second-team selections, while Morales and Mosch were third-team picks. Rose was also recognized for her work in the classroom. She was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District I First Team. Switenko and senior Rachel Park were second-team academic all-district picks.

2005
The Orange set the school record for victories, compiling a 28-22 overall record. The team's 11-7 mark in BIG EAST play was good enough to earn the third seed in the conference tournament. SU went 1-2 in the postseason, earning its first league tourney win, a 5-1 triumph versus Villanova. As a team, the Orange set school records for runs scored (209), hits (369), home runs (39), runs batted in (187), total bases (555), slugging percentage (.411), fielding percentage (966) and strikeouts by (324). Syracuse was well represented at the BIG EAST awards banquet. Freshman pitcher Erin Downey earned the league's Rookie of the Year Award after going 8-3 in conference play in her first season. Head coach Mary Jo Firnbach and assistants Jodie Cox and Kim Doran were honored as the league's Coaching Staff of the Year. The Orange put four players on the All-BIG EAST First Team, more than any other school. Senior Tanya Rose was a first-team choice for the second time in her career and became the first player in league history to be named all-conference four times. Senior Tiffany Robinson was a first-teamer as well after leading the league with a .444 average in conference games. Junior Cassie Morales was one of five unanimous choices to the first team, while sophomore Courtney Mosch was the first-team utility player for her work at first base and in the circle. Senior Shawna Norris, junior Alexis Switenko and Downey comprised the Orange's three second-team all-conference picks. Robinson led the hitters wit a .349 batting average and set the school record with a 16-game hitting streak. Rose became the first Orange player to hit .300 in four straight seasons, posting a .335 average and a team-leading 37 runs scored. Norris led the team eight homers and was one of six players to hit at least five long balls. Morales led the team in doubles (14) and runs batted in (30). The Orange had a school-record six players drive in at least 20 runs. Rookie Chanel Roehner was among those six with an SU freshman record 27 RBI. In the circle, Downey tied the school record for wins, posting a 17-10 record. She had 198 strikeouts, the second-most in school history. Mosch led the team with a 2.14 ERA and limited opponents to a .209 batting average. She threw the Orange's first no-hitter since 2000, blanking Cornell on March 5. Norris and Rose also earned academic accolades. Norris was a first-team ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District I pick, while Rose was named to the second team.

2006
The 2006 season proved to be the most successful in school history. The Orange finished the season 36-21 overall, with a BIG EAST record of 15-7 under head coach Mary Jo Firnbach.

The 2006 squad set numerous SU records. The team set single-game records in runs with 14 against Seton Hall on March 25 and RBIs with 13 against Niagara on April 12. The Orange also set single-season records in games played (57), wins (36), batting average (.289), at-bats (1,461), runs (274), hits (422), doubles (71), home runs (51), RBIs (249), total bases (658) and slugging percentage (.450). Alexis Switenko, Cassie Morales and Rachel Tilford played in all 57 games.

Switenko and Erin Downey also registered several single-season records of their own. Switenko secured the highest batting average (.393), the most hits (64), home runs (15), RBIs (44), total bases (121) and the highest slugging percentage (.742). Downey appeared in 41 games, made 34 stars, recorded 20 wins and threw 263 strikeouts.

Tonye McCorkle earned a spot in the freshman records, as did her classmate Heather Kim. McCorkle set records in hits with 50 and soubles with 14, while Kim registered 35 RBIs.

The Orange had the second most players named to All-BIG EAST teams. Downey and Kim both earned third team honors, while McCorkle, Morales and Switenko all were named to the All-BIG EAST first team. McCorkle also became SU's third BIG EAST Rookie of the Year.

Syracuse also had four members named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Region teams. Downey, Kim and Morales all earned second team honors, and Switenko was named to the first team.

2007
This year the Orange welcomed head coach Leigh Ross and associate head coach Kyle Jamieson to the program. The pair were previously at Bowling Green where Ross spend eight seasons as the head coach.

Syracuse finished the season 21-31 overall, with a 9-11 record in BIG EAST play. The 2007 team made its third straight and fifth overall appearance at the BIG EAST Tournament.

The squad set the SU single-game record for hits with 18 versus Appalachian State on March 10. Freshman pitcher Brittany Gardner also earned a spot in the record books. Gardner set single-season records in appearances with 41 and starts with 34. Both also top the respective lists in the freshman records.

Two members of the Orange earned postseason honors. Chanel Roehner was selected first team All-BIG EAST, while Heather Kim earned Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District I First Team honors.

2008
In head coach Leigh Ross' second season with Syracuse, the Orange finished 21-32, with a strong 12-10 record in BIG EAST play. SU made its fourth straight and sixth overall appearance at the BIG EAST Tourament. After a slow start, 0-13, the Orange rallied to win 11 of its next 15 games.

Junior transfer Jamie Kelling set an SU single-season record with 181 at-bats. Freshman Hallie Gibbs also made a name for herself in her first season. She set SU freshman records in starts and games played, after starting all 53 games. She also hit a home run in her first collegiate plate appearance versus Centenary. It was an SU program first.

Junior catcher Amy Kelley and Kelling both earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors. Kelley was also named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All Region First Team.

2009

Syracuse finished one of its most successful season with a 30-21 overall record. The Orange went 12-10 in BIG EAST play before making their fifth straight and sixth overall appearance at the BIG EAST Tournament. It was the first 30-win season under head coach Leigh Ross. Ross not only registered her 50th win at the helm of the Orange program in 2009, she also recorded her 300th career win.

The Orange got off to their best start in program history, gonig 4-1 in its first five games. SU also tied its longest winning streak during the season, winning eight straight games between April 11 and April 19.

The squad set several team and indvidual single-season records. As a team, the Orange set records in triples (14), walks (155), on base percentage (.366), stolen bases (52) and fielding percentage (.966). Freshman Stephanie Watts, one of eight newcomers to the team, set single-season records in runs (54), triples (5), walks (36) and stolen bases (20). She also recorded freshman records in runs, triples, on base percentage (.456), walks and assists (113).

Senior Nicole Miller also left her mark on the program. She finished her career with 825 putouts to take over the career putouts list. Classmate Amy Kelley finished second on the career putouts list with 819.

Another member of the freshman class made a huge impact in the circle in 2009. Jenna Caira led the Orange with a 2.33 era, 16 wins and 192 strikeouts. She threw two 10-plus strikeout games (16 strikeouts in 12 innings vs. Georgetown; 10 in seven innings vs. Siena) and had two no-hitters. She not only double the program's total no-hitters, but became the first SU pitcher to throw more than one in a single season.

Caira, Miller and senior Lindsay Wasek were all named to the All-BIG EAST Third Team, while Kelley earned a spot on the second team. In addition, Caira earned Rookie of the Year honors from Syracuse Athletics, the BIG EAST and the ECAC.