Orange Sports Spotlight Archive
Oct. 2 | Oct. 9 | Oct. 16 | Feb. 5 | Feb. 12 | March 19 | April 9
April 9
Orangewomen Open Home Schedule with MarathonThe Orangewomen played their first home games of the 2001 season, facing BIG EAST foes Pittsburgh and Notre Dame on April 7-8. Syracuse’s first game with the Panthers turned out to be the longest in the history of the program. The Orangewomen lost an 11-inning thriller by a score of 1-0. The game took two hours and 47 minutes to complete, breaking the old mark of two hours and 43 minutes set earlier this season in a 10-inning loss at Texas A&M. The Orangewomen also played an 11-inning game last season, defeating Boston College, 4-2. SU also lost the back end of the doubleheader with Pittsburgh, 2-0 and was swept by the 11th-ranked Fighting Irish on Sunday by identical 6-0 scores.
Brown Puts on Record-Setting Performance in Loss
Junior pitcher Heather Brown (Bloomfield, NM) pitched all 11 innings of Syracuse’s 1-0 home-opening
loss to Pittsburgh on April 7. The outing was the longest single-game effort by an SU pitcher,
breaking Missy Bieman’s (Wingham, Ontario) old mark of 10.1 innings set last season versus Boston
College. Brown also put her name in the record book by holding the Panthers scoreless for 10
innings, the most shutout innings by a Syracuse pitcher in a single game.
Brown Starting to Rack Up Strikeouts
The start of BIG EAST play has seen a sharp rise in the number of strikeouts for junior pitcher
Heather Brown (Bloomfield, NM). In three conference starts, Brown has amassed 26 strikeouts in 24
innings of work (7.58 K/7 inns.), including a 13-K performance versus Pittsburgh. That game marked
the most strikeouts for a Syracuse pitcher this season and the second-highest single-game total in
the program’s two years. In non-conference play, Brown struck out 40 hitters in 54 innings of work
(5.19 K/7 inns.).
Injuries Force DiMaggio to Show Versatility
Sophomore Tara DiMaggio (Hopewell Junction, NY) saw time at four different positions this past
weekend for the Orangewomen. DiMaggio started the first game of the Pittsburgh doubleheader in
right field after regular rightfielder Kristen Collins (Stow, MA) suffered a cut to her face in
practice. Collins was used as a pinch runner in that game and returned to right field for the
second game. DiMaggio was the starting pitcher in the nightcap versus Pittsburgh, and then went on
to play first base after being relieved to start the sixth inning. She started Sunday’s second game
on the slab before an injury to shortstop Lindsay Richards (Burr Ridge, IL) forced DiMaggio to
shortstop.
Grillo Seeing Double
Freshman catcher Jaime Grillo (Brentwood, NY) smacked her team-leading fourth double of the season
in the first game of the Pittsburgh doubleheader. Half of the rookie’s eight hits have been
two-baggers. Grillo is tied for the team lead with five RBIs, and has also been effective behind
the plate, throwing out nine would-be base stealers.
Up Next ...
The Orangewomen step out of conference for a pair of mid-week doubleheaders. Syracuse hosts Colgate
on Tuesday, April 10 at 6 p.m. and then travels to Binghamton on Wednesday, April 11 for a 3 p.m.
twin bill.
March 19
The Orangewomen went 3-4 on their seven-game spring break trip to Tallahassee, FL. Syracuse swept a doubleheader with the University of Utah, 1-0 and 4-3, on March 13 before falling to 18th-ranked Nebraska 8-0 on March 15. The Orangewomen went 1-3 in four games at the Florida State Invitational. SU defeated Iowa State, 2-1, in the opening game of the tournament, but then lost to No. 16 Florida State, 3-2, Nebraska, 3-0, and Maryland, 5-3.
Orangewomen Losing Streak Stops at Six
Syracuse’s 1-0 victory versus Utah in the first game of the doubleheader snapped the Orangewomen’s six-game slide. It was SU’s first shutout victory of the season, and first victory overall since a season-opening win against Northern Illinois at the Tiger Invitational hosted by Auburn. The win ended the longest losing streak in the brief history of the program.
Dunn Comes Alive With the Bat
Sophomore Julie Dunn (Springfield, IL) raised her batting average 140 points during the Orangewomen's seven-game spring break trip. Dunn hit .429 for the week, collecting a team-best six hits in 14 at-bats. She started all seven games, leading the team in slugging (.500) and on-base percentage (.579). Dunn also drove in a pair of runs, including the game-winner in the Orangewomen's 4-3 come-from-behind victory versus Utah to clinch a doubleheader sweep. She drew three walks and was hit by two pitches, and now leads the team with a .258 batting average. Dunn did not strikeout in any of the seven games, which included two matchups with 18th-ranked Nebraska, one game with 16th-ranked Florida State and two games versus the preseason top 25 Utes.
Bieman Ends Drought With Another Long Ball
Senior Missy Bieman (Wingham, Ontario) snapped an 0-for-29 slump with a home run in the Orangewomen's 3-2 loss to 16th-ranked Florida State. Bieman hit a three-run homer in Syracuse's season-opening 7-3 victory versus Northern Illinois and had not had another hit until she went deep against the Seminoles. She didn't wait so long between her second and third hits, driving in another run with a single in her next at-bat. Bieman now leads the team with five runs batted in.
Brown Tosses First SU Blanking
Junior Heather Brown (Bloomfield, NM) threw her first shutout in an Orangewoman uniform, blanking Utah, 1-0, to snap a six-game Syracuse losing streak. The win was SU's first shutout of the season. Brown scattered four hits in seven innings and struck out two.
Relievers Come Through On the Mound
Both senior Missy Bieman (Wingham, Ontario) and sophomore Tara DiMaggio (Hopewell Junction, NY) earned their first wins of the season in Tallahassee. Bieman was credited with the victory in SU’s 4-3 come-from-behind victory versus Utah, tossing three innings of no-hit relief. Bieman struck out one and did not walk a batter to improve to 1-1 on the season. DiMaggio earned her first win of the season in another SU comeback, a 2-1 win versus Iowa State. DiMaggio pitched four and one-third innings of scoreless relief. She entered the game with two outs and the bases loaded, but ended the Cyclone threat with a strikeout. She gave up just one hit and struck out a season-best five hitters. Combined, DiMaggio and Bieman threw 15 and two-thirds innings of relief. The scattered nine hits and allowed only three runs, striking out 12 and allowing just two walks.
Never Say Die Orangewomen
Three of Syracuse's four victories this season have been of the comeback variety. SU trailed Northern Illinois, 3-1, until Missy Bieman hit a three-run home run to give the Orangewomen the lead for good in the season's first game. Syracuse overcame its largest deficit of the season in the second game of a doubleheader with Utah, a 4-3 Syracuse win. The Utes jumped out to a 3-0 lead after three innings of play, but Syracuse had its biggest inning of the season, plating four runs in the top half of the sixth. Freshman Jaime Grillo drove in the game-tying run with a single, which was followed by Julie Dunn's game-winning hit. SU also came from behind in its victory versus Iowa State. Trailing 1-0 in the top of the fifth, the Orangewomen plated two runs highlighted by freshman Nikki Lincoln’s (Baton Rouge, LA) first career double that drove in the tying run and an RBI single by sophomore Christina Holowich (Castro Valley, CA).
Herrman Picking Up the Pace
Sophomore Jackie Herrman (Warren, OH) finished spring break with four hits, one more than her previous season total entering the week. Herrman started all seven games as the Orangewomen’s designated player, and is currently riding a three-game hitting streak. Her seven hits for the season is tied for third best on the squad.
Feb. 12
The Orangewomen softball team opened its 2001 campaign at the Tiger Invitational hosted by Auburn University on February 9-11. Syracuse won its opening game versus Northern Illinois, 7-3, but then lost its next four outings, including two one-run games. The Orangewomen are off until March 2 when they travel to Texas A&M for the Aggie II Invitational.
Holowich Named to All-Tournament Team
Sophomore Christina Holowich (Castro Valley, CA) was named to the all-tournament team at the Tiger Invitational. Holowich started all five games in centerfield, posting a .312 batting average from the leadoff spot. She had five hits in 16 at-bats, including two singles in the season-opening win versus Northern Illinois. Holowich also led off losses to Auburn and Ohio State with hits, the 11th and 12th time she has done that in her career.
Brown Wins Syracuse Debut
Junior Heather Brown (Bloomfield, NM) won her first start in a Syracuse uniform on February 9, striking out nine en route to a 7-3 complete-game victory against Northern Illinois. Brown's first eight outs came via the strikeout, including a 1-2-3 second-inning performance. The transfer from Central Arizona leads the Orangewomen with 21 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched.
DiMaggio Strong Early On
Sophomore Tara DiMaggio (Hopewell Junction, NY) allowed just one run and two hits in 9.1 innings of work for the Orangewomen. DiMaggio pitched 3.1 innings of no-hit relief versus Auburn, and didn't give up a hit in her first four innings of work versus Purdue. She leads the team with a 0.75 ERA, and opponents are hitting just .074 off her.
Grillo Proves to be Valuable Weapon Behind the Plate
Freshman catcher Jaime Grillo (Brentwood, NY) had a successful showing in her collegiate debut. The rookie became the third Syracuse player to record a hit in their first collegiate at-bat when she drove in a run with a double versus Northern Illinois. Grillo also starred defensively, throwing out four of eight would-be base stealers. Grillo is tied for the team lead in doubles after another RBI two-base hit versus Ohio State. She also is tied for second on the team with two sacrifices.
Julicher Shows Patience Behind the Plate
Sophomore Cheryl Julicher (Williamsville, NY), last year's team-leader with four home runs, showed off her batting eye at Auburn, drawing a team-best four walks. Hitting from the fifth-spot in the order, Julicher also produced two doubles and a run batted in. She leads the team with a .429 on-base percentage and a .400 slugging percentage.
Bieman Provides Heroics Versus Huskies
Senior Missy Bieman (Wingham, Ontario) was the first offensive hero of the young season, belting a three-run home run in the fifth inning versus Northern Illinois to give the Orangewomen their first lead of the game. Syracuse trailed, 3-2, when Bieman came to the plate with the tying run in scoring position. She connected for her second career home run, giving Syracuse the lead for good and its first victory of the season.
Orange Face Field at Texas A&M
Syracuse has a three-week hiatus from competition before it heads to College Station, TX for the Aggie II Invitational. The Orangewomen will play five games in three days at the round-robin tournament. They open competition against Illinois State at March 2 1:15 p.m. The next day, they match up against host Texas A&M and another meeting with Illinois State. SU wraps up the tournament on March 4 with games against Iowa and the Aggies.
Feb. 5, 2001
Orangewomen to Open Second SeasonThe softball squad will begin its 2001 campaign on Friday, February 9 at the Tiger Invitational hosted by Auburn University. The Orangewomen will take on Northern Illinois, Auburn, Ohio State and Purdure in the three-day event. Syracuse is now in its second season of competition after going 24-23-1 during its inaugrual campaign.
Conference Slate Added to Schedule
After competing as an independent last season, the Orangewomen will play in the BIG EAST for the first time in 2001. The Orangewomen were ranked seventh in the 11-team league in the preseason by the coaches. SU opens the conference portion of its schedule on April 1 at Virginia Tech. Syracuse plays 10 doubleheaders this season against BIG EAST schools. The conference tournament is slated for May 10-12 in Villanova, PA.
A Tough Road in Year Two
Head coach Mary Jo Firnbach wasted little time in challenging her second-year program. The Syracuse schedule includes five team that are ranked in the NFCA preseason top 25 and nine teams that qualified for the NCAA regionals last spring. The Orangewomen get their first taste of a top-25 squad on March 4 at the Texas A&M Aggie II Invitational when they take on No. 13 Iowa. Syracuse will also play against ranked opponents on March 13-14 in Tallahasse, FL with consecutive doubleheaders versus No. 25 Utah and No. 12 Nebraska.
Pitching Staff Returns in Full Force
The Syracuse pitching staff, which boasted a 1.84 ERA and 304 strikeouts in 319.1 innings pitched, returns both arms from a year ago. Sophomore Tara DiMaggio (Hopewell Junction, NY) led the team with 14 wins and a 1.46 ERA, striking out an average of 1.1 batters per inning. She highlighted the Orangewomen's first season with a five-inning perfect game at Buffalo on April 25. Senior Missy Bieman (Wingham, Ontario) won 10 games last season, boasting a4.8 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Bieman completed 14 of her 21 starts, including four shutouts. The Orangewomen will also have a third option this season with the addition of Junior College All-American Heather Brown (Bloomfield, NM). Brown transferred from Central Arizona College where she went 35-4 with a 0.35 ERA and 286 strikeouts. Brown also has Division I experience, going 12-1 with 107 strikeouts and a 0.35 ERA at Minnesota in 1999.
Richards Leads Returning Hitters
The Orangewomen also return most of its lineup from the 2000 season. Sophomore Lindsay Richards (Burr Ridge, IL) led the regulars with a .305 batting average and 40 hits. Sophomore Jackie Herrman (Warren, OH) was SU's leading run producer with 22 RBIs. She also hit two home runs. Sophomore Cheryl Julicher (Williamsville, NY) led the Orangewomen in the power department with four home runs and a .410 slugging percentage. Sophomore Rachel Park (Mt. Juliet, TN) was third on the team in hitting with a .279 average.
Orangewomen Capture Syracuse Invitational
Bieman Leads SU Charge At the Plate
Julicher Has Best Fall With the Bat
Pitching Staff Limits Opposition
Oct. 16, 2000
The Orangewomen ended their fall season with three consecutive victories at the Syracuse Softball Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 14. Syracuse defeated Cornell, 2-1, Colgate, 4-0, and Buffalo, 3-1. The Orangewomen finished the fall with a record of 10-4, including eight wins in their last nine games.
Senior Missy Bieman (Wingham, Ontario) went 6-for-10 with three runs batted in to lead Syracuse to the tournament title. Bieman's best game of the day came versus Colgate. She went 3-for-4 with a a pair of RBI and a run scored. She hit better than .300 for the fall with a .325 batting average (13-for-40) and drove in a
squad-best 10 runs. Bieman also drew six walks.
In the 14 fall contests, sophomore Cheryl Julicher (Williamsville, NY) led the Orangewomen regulars with a .333 batting average (13-for-39). She had a team-best six sacrifices, and drove in five runs. She also posted three extra-base hits, including two doubles and a triple. Julicher capped her fall season with a 4-for-9 performance at the Syracuse Softball Invitational, including the game-winning RBI versus Cornell.
The Syracuse pitching staff had a 0.33 ERA, allowing just one earned run in 21 innings of work on Saturday. Junior Heather Brown (Bloomfield, NM) won her only outing with a complete-game shuout of Colgate. She struck out eight and walked just one, while holding the Red Raiders to five hits. Sophomore Tara DiMaggio (Hopewell Junction, NY) picked up the Orangewomen's other two victories with a pair of complete games. DiMaggio struck out 16 batters in 14 innings, allowing only seven hits and one earned run. For the fall, DiMaggio and Brown combined to go 10-3 in 14 appearances. DiMaggio led the staff with a 5-1 record and 0.77 ERA. She struck out 58 in 45 and two-thirds innings, allowing only 19 hits and five earned runs. Brown went 5-2 with a 1.97 ERA in six starts. She completed all six of them, allowing 11 earned runs. She averaged a strikeout per inning with 39 whiffs in 39 innings.
