Syracuse Softball: Tough Test in Virginia Tech Looms

Maybe it was for the best that last weekend's series against NC State got cancelled because of the field conditions there. The team still scrimmaged against each other, as was announced by Syracuse Orange softball head coach Leigh Ross on her Twitter account as soon as news broke of the cancellation:

Trip to NC State cancelled!! @CuseSB won't be stopped though. Intersquad games in Manley this weekend! #snow?whatsnow?

— Leigh Ross (@CoachRossAtSU) February 27, 2015

The Hokies won their first nine games of the season, playing in the Kickin' Chicken Classic in Conway, South Carolina, and the North Florida Tournament in Jacksonville, before losing to Jacksonville State in the final game there. In Conway, S.C., they faced Maryland, Lafayette, and Coastal Carolina, playing UMD and Lafayette twice. At the North Florida Tournament, they faced Jacksonville State twice, in addition to James Madison, Maine, and North Florida. They won all four of their games in the Pirate Invitational in Greenville, North Carolina, facing Seton Hall and East Carolina twice each. They run-ruled Seton Hall both games in which they faced them.

Pitcher Maggie Tyler leads Tech with a 6-3 record, while the other pitchers Kelly Heinz and Mikaela Aiken are 4-0 and 3-0 in the circle. As far as batting, freshman left-fielder Breanna Davenport is paving the way with 21 hits in 54 at-bats, with 2 home runs and 13 RBIs giving her a .389 batting average. Kylie McGoldrick, a senior second baseman has 20 RBIs on 18 hits in 45 at-bats leading to a .400 batting average. The highest home runs total belongs to redshirt-junior third baseman/catcher Kelsey Mericka, with eight. Mericka also has 15 hits and 19 RBIs in 45 at bats, giving her a .333 batting average. Look for these ladies to do some damage this weekend.

For the Orange, freshman Sammy Fernandez leads with a .380 batting average off of 19 hits in 50 at bats. Senior Corinne Ozanne is the home run leader with eight, in addition to six other hits, 14 RBIs, and a .326 batting average. The freshman take the cake for Syracuse, as Maddi Doane has 15 hits on 51 at bats and seven RBIs for a .294 batting average. Jocelyn Cater (4-5) and Sydney O'Hara (3-3) lead the team in the circle. Cater has 72 strikeouts and O'Hara 30. The freshman continue to shine for a Syracuse team that hasn't quite found its identity yet. It will be interesting to see how they matchup against their toughest competition of the season yet in Virginia Tech.

The first game is slated for 1:00 p.m. EST Saturday with the second game shortly after. The series rounds out on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. EST.