Nice win by Syracuse. Interesting that both teams threw their No. 2 pitchers to start then went to their aces later in the game.
Arizona State can hit the ball. Going to be a tough matchup. ASU will have their strikeout pitcher going most likely, but she gives up the gopher ball on occasion. Caira's going to have to be on her A game for the Orange to have a chance.
Coach Ross stated it very well, the first year they were just glad to be there. Last year they wanted to get their first win in the NCAA's and they did. This year they want to be playing on 5/31.
By winning yesterday it saves them a game so they can give it their best shot. No matter what happens they have represented themselves, their families and the university in a very proud manner. Being ranked in the top 25 is going to be very helpful on the recruiting trail. The team & coach Ross are showing girls across the country that you can play in the northeast and be competitive on the national stage and at the same time get a great education.
SU has played a schedule to prepare them for this kind of competition
We played 19 games this year against teams in the tournament. We were 10 & 9 against them (Did I miss anyone?)
1 California lost 3-6
12 UCLA lost 3-6
13 Arizona played twice lost 1-11 & 0-5
Northwestern who SU beat 9-3, Northwestern upset #6 Texas
Auburn we lost 0-5
Michigan we beat 4-2
Baylor we beat 2-1
Boston U we lost 0-1
DePaul beat 5-3 & lost 2-3
Virginia Tech we beat 5-0
North Carolina we beat them 6-2 (UNC lost to Georgia 3-2)
Notre Dame we beat 8-2, 3-2 and lost 3-4 ( UND beat Hawaii
South Florida we beat 2-0, 7-0 & lost 3-4 (USF beat Florida Gulf Coast 6-0)
Last year we played 11 of the teams who are in this years NCAA's we had an 10-11 record against them
#15 Louisville we were 5-0 against the same pitching staff they have now
#2 Alabama Lost 0-9 & 5-20
Hawaii Beat 3-2
Florida lost 0-2
Vlapariso beat 6-0
S Fla lost 1-3, 3-7, 0-4
Notre Dame lost 2-9, 4-7
UMass beat 2-1 lost 0-2
DePaul beat 2-0
LSU beat 3-0 lost 0-5
Texas A&M lost 5-13
