Syracuse Softball Finally Returns Home Friday
By: Adam Gotkin | @adam_gotkin
If you’ve seen anything Syracuse Softball related you know that the team has yet to play a home game. The season started 47 days ago, 26 games have been played, all on the road. Through the first month and a half of the season, the ‘Cuse is 10-15-1. Yes, they tied a game. The first tie since the team’s inaugural season in 2000. The record is a bit deceiving though. The Orange have been dealt a tough hand through the start of the year, having to sleep on buses and travel cross country, while playing the nation’s top teams.
Syracuse’s first two ACC series were against Clemson and Florida State, the top two teams in the conference and two teams ranked in the top 10 nationally. In their third ACC series, this past weekend, Syracuse played Notre Dame, a middle-of-the-pack squad in the ACC. The Fighting Irish were 17-7 overall and 3-3 going into the series and S-U went 1-1-1, a positive sign.
Before the Notre Dame series, Syracuse played Canisius in a doubleheader. The Golden Griffins won the MAAC last year and are favorites to repeat. The ‘Cuse won both games of the doubleheader. The Orange have a ton of momentum heading into the home stretch.
Historically, Syracuse is very solid at home. Last year, the ‘Cuse went 8-5 in home games. Almost every season, the Orange have a better record at home than on the road. The home schedule starts this weekend at noon against Louisville.
The Cardinals are 22-9 on the season. UofL received two votes in the most recent ESPN.com poll. Louisville hasn’t been as stellar away from home though. In road games, they are just 3-4. The Cards are 7-2 in ACC play with sweeps against Pitt and NC State and one win against Duke, the number 15 team in the country. Offensively, they are led by Korbe Otis and Sarah Gordon. Both hit over .400 on the season. There are four everyday starters who have an OPS above 1.000 in the Cardinal’s starting lineup.
On the pitching side of things, UofL is just as strong. Six pitchers have seen action this year and all of them have an ERA below five. All but one have more strikeouts than walks. It will be a very tough test for Syracuse but the morale around the team is high. The belief is still there that this squad has what it takes to make a run in the ACC tournament even with the poor start to the season.
ajgotkin@syr.edu | @adam_gotkin
