SB SU vs UofL weekend of 3/27/15

[CuseLegacy]

http://cuse.com/news/2015/3/26/SB_0326151243.aspx
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Due to field conditions, Syracuse (12-14, 0-3 ACC) will head to Louisville (19-8, 8-1 ACC) for this weekend's series. The three-game stretch was originally scheduled to be played in Syracuse. However, despite the change in location, 'Cuse will still compete as the home team.

After its last five games were cancelled due to weather or poor field conditions, this will be the first time Syracuse steps out onto the diamond in nearly two weeks. This is the first conference test for the Orange since March 8 against Virginia Tech. Six conference games have been cancelled due to weather and field conditions so far this season.

Syracuse's Toughest Challenge Yet Awaits
In its first ACC challenge in over two weeks, the Orange will take on a team on the verge of breaking into the Nation's Top 25. After beginning the season 2-4, the Cardinals have surged 17 of its last 21 contests. In that stretch, Louisville prevailed in non-conference tests against Arkansas and Ohio State and ripped through the ACC, sweeping Georgia Tech, Virginia and taking two-of-three against North Carolina. Over the course of its last 21 games, Louisville scored four runs or more in 16 of them with five games scoring 10 runs or more.

The Cards owe much of its success to its explosive offense. At the plate, UofL ranks first in the conference in vatting average, third in slugging percentage and second in on-base percentage. With that said, the Syracuse pitching staff and defense will have its hands full, but, the same can be said about Louisville, as it will face one of the best pitching staffs in the conference.

Jocelyn Cater leads the way in the circle for 'Cuse and has been nothing short of dominant this season, holding batters to a .207 batting average and posting a 2.50 ERA. She's pitched her way out of any situation as well, holding hitters to a .210 batting average with runners in scoring position. Her 9.9 strikeouts per seven innings has her ranked 18th in the nation and her 142 strikeouts overall has her 17th in the country. The strikeout total is more than four pitching staffs within the ACC and it falls just short of Boston College with 149.

A Rivalry Renewed
The last time these two teams squared off was in 2013 when Louisville was ranked as the 11th best team in the nation. The BIG EAST foes met four times with Louisville winning three of the four games. Overall, the Cards lead the series with a 13-8 record against the Orange.


'Cuse Trends

• Syracuse's pitching staff gained a boost in Florida with Lindsay Taylor easing her way into game speed with three innings of scoreless ball.
• The pitching staff as a whole has a 3.00 earned run average, ranking it fifth in the conference and 76th in the nation. Taylor, Cater and Lindsey Larkin all have ERA's below three with Larkin owning the lowest with a 2.19 ERA in 16 innings. Larkin earned her first win of the season against Hartford and has only allowed runs in two of her eight appearances this season.
• Cater leads the staff, keeping opposing teams to three runs or less in 17 of her 20 appearances.
• After exploding at the plate in Florida, hitting .381 in eight games with eight hits, three home runs, nine runs batted in and five runs scored, O'Hara now leads 'Cuse with a .296 batting average and 16 runs batted in.
• Freshmen, Sammy Fernandez and Maddi Doane lead the team in hits and runs scored. Fernandez has 25 hits and 15 runs scored while Doane has 22 base knocks and has crossed the plate 14 times. Despite having the most at-bats on the team, Fernandez has struck out the fewest among the Orange hitters with nine strikeouts in 87 at-bats.
• Corinne Ozanne and Julie Wambold have packed a punch for the Orange in the middle of the lineup. Ozanne is hitting .294 this season and is tied for the conference lead with eight home runs. Her .691 slugging percentage, 18 walks and .461 on base percentage rank her first on the team as well. Wambold is hitting .277 in her senior campaign with a .415 on base percentage. Her 15 runs batted in ties her for the team lead with Ozanne.

 

[CuseLegacy]

http://dailyorange.com/2015/03/syra...oth-parts-of-doubleheader-against-louisville/

Syracuse comes up short in both parts of doubleheader against Louisville
By The Daily Orange Sports staff
30 minutes ago

Syracuse found two different ways to lose two different games on Saturday on the road against Louisville.

The Orange (12-16, 0-5 Atlantic Coast) fell to Louisville (21-8, 10-1) in a slugfest, 15-11, and then in a more defensive game, 5-4.

Syracuse fell behind in deep holes each game, starting with an 8-0 deficit in the first game.

A seven-run bottom of the fourth inning put Syracuse down by one run, but Lindsey Larkin and Jordyn White allowed an additional seven runs over 3 2/3 innings, which proved too much for the SU offense to come back from.

The last time Jocelyn Cater took to the circle against Towson just under two weeks ago, she tossed a complete game win with 15 strikeouts and allowed two hits. On Saturday against Louisville, she was handed the loss after allowing the first eight runs on seven hits and two walks.

Freshman right fielder Maddi Doane batted leadoff and led the team offensively with three hits in five at bats, including two doubles and a triple. She also drove in five runs.

The usual leadoff hitter, freshman shortstop Sammy Fernandez, did not play in either game.

Syracuse also trailed 5-0 in its second game before chipping into the lead.

It took until the bottom of the sixth. The Orange’s Sydney O’Hara continued her hot hitting and added to her team-leading .297 batting average when she drilled a Madi Norman pitch into the right-field seats for a two-run dinger to draw SU within 5-4.

Louisville immediately brought in Maryssa Becker, who recorded a four-out save.

Syracuse played as the home team in both games, since the series was originally scheduled to be played in Syracuse, but the conditions at SU Softball Stadium were deemed unplayable. SU has played 28 games away from home to begin the season.