Spring Break
The Daily OrangeSoftball | On the bubble, Syracuse looks to strengthen NCAA resume at Big East tournament
By Matt Gelb
Posted: 5/10/06, 7:42 PM EST Section: Sports
The Syracuse softball team has been breaking records all season, but the most prolific offensive team in SU history still has a few things it wants to take care of.
"I think all of the girls are really excited," sophomore pitcher Erin Downey said. "We want to make something big happen for this university. We want to keep setting records."
The Orange is in a position no other team in school history has ever faced. One year removed from the program's first and only postseason win to date, SU could earn its first Women's College World Series berth ever as an at-large bid, without having to win the Big East tournament.
SU kicks-off play in the Big East tournament today as the fourth seed, taking on fifth-seeded DePaul at 10 a.m. at the Belleville Softball Complex in South Bend, Ind.
"We're in a good spot with who we play, but we're not taking anyone lightly," senior Alexis Switenko said. "They're a good team, they have World Series experience. It's a big game; we have to come out fighting like we have all year."
It is the first time SU (36-20, 15-7 Big East) has advanced to the Big East tournament in consecutive seasons. Last year, the Orange lost its first round game of the double-elimination tournament, but defeated Villanova, 5-1, for the school's first-ever and only postseason victory. SU would fall to the eventual champion Notre Dame.
Currently, SU is on the bubble. With an RPI of 43, fourth in the Big East behind regular-season champion Louisville, Notre Dame and South Florida, the Orange could still use a good showing at the conference tournament to solidify its bid for the final field of 64. Selection is Sunday.
"It's important for a program like ours because we don't have the history like a lot of other teams that get in because of the name or the benefit of the doubt," SU head coach Mary Jo Firnbach said. "We don't have that going for us."
The fifth-seeded Blue Demons stand in SU's way first and if victorious, the Orange probably would face top-seed Louisville, a team which no-hit SU three weeks ago.
"I think all of the girls are really excited," sophomore pitcher Erin Downey said. "We want to make something big happen for this university. We want to keep setting records."
The Orange is in a position no other team in school history has ever faced. One year removed from the program's first and only postseason win to date, SU could earn its first Women's College World Series berth ever as an at-large bid, without having to win the Big East tournament.
SU kicks-off play in the Big East tournament today as the fourth seed, taking on fifth-seeded DePaul at 10 a.m. at the Belleville Softball Complex in South Bend, Ind.
"We're in a good spot with who we play, but we're not taking anyone lightly," senior Alexis Switenko said. "They're a good team, they have World Series experience. It's a big game; we have to come out fighting like we have all year."
It is the first time SU (36-20, 15-7 Big East) has advanced to the Big East tournament in consecutive seasons. Last year, the Orange lost its first round game of the double-elimination tournament, but defeated Villanova, 5-1, for the school's first-ever and only postseason victory. SU would fall to the eventual champion Notre Dame.
Currently, SU is on the bubble. With an RPI of 43, fourth in the Big East behind regular-season champion Louisville, Notre Dame and South Florida, the Orange could still use a good showing at the conference tournament to solidify its bid for the final field of 64. Selection is Sunday.
"It's important for a program like ours because we don't have the history like a lot of other teams that get in because of the name or the benefit of the doubt," SU head coach Mary Jo Firnbach said. "We don't have that going for us."
The fifth-seeded Blue Demons stand in SU's way first and if victorious, the Orange probably would face top-seed Louisville, a team which no-hit SU three weeks ago.
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