The Daily OrangeSyracuse softball aims for consistency in home opener
By Tony Olivero
Posted: 3/26/09, 10:07 PM EST Section: Sports
There was only one question that remained Wednesday afternoon as Syracuse head coach Leigh Ross and her team prepared for its home opener against Pittsburgh this Friday. The softball coach had to ponder why her team had been so inconsistent in its last four contests, splitting the quartet after losing both of the first games.
The third year coach is still trying to find the answer.
"If I had that answer, it would be a lot easier," Ross said. "You know that's the frustrating part, because you see them play so well at times, and it's so hard to just stand by and watch."
The young Syracuse squad (eight freshman make up the 17 member team), has exhibited a tremendous amount of inconsistency since returning to the east coast. Syracuse hosts Pittsburgh Friday in a doubleheader.
Following its disappointing California road swing, where the Orange was one-hit by west-coast power UCLA, the team has come out flat and succumbed to opposition in both doubleheaders, to only pounce on them in the subsequent games.
In its Big East opener at Seton Hall, Syracuse failed in the batters box, only mustering one hit, and then proceeded to defeat the Pirates with the help of two home runs and a Grand Slam in the next outing.
Against the Bulls, Syracuse's failures came on the defensive end, as the Orange booted several balls in the dirt in its opening loss, but then had the fight to defeat them in extra innings the following game.
Unlike Ross, Syracuse sophomore Hallie Gibbs may have an explanation for the unexpected inconsistency.
"I think everyone was pumped and ready to play, and I think that everyone maybe just expected it to come easier than it did," Gibbs said. "It was a mixture of a mindset of like, it's just going to come to us, and perhaps over-anxiousness or too much excitement."
Whatever the reason, Ross and the rest of the Orange aren't denying their poor play at times, and the fact that it shouldn't have occurred.
The third year coach is still trying to find the answer.
"If I had that answer, it would be a lot easier," Ross said. "You know that's the frustrating part, because you see them play so well at times, and it's so hard to just stand by and watch."
The young Syracuse squad (eight freshman make up the 17 member team), has exhibited a tremendous amount of inconsistency since returning to the east coast. Syracuse hosts Pittsburgh Friday in a doubleheader.
Following its disappointing California road swing, where the Orange was one-hit by west-coast power UCLA, the team has come out flat and succumbed to opposition in both doubleheaders, to only pounce on them in the subsequent games.
In its Big East opener at Seton Hall, Syracuse failed in the batters box, only mustering one hit, and then proceeded to defeat the Pirates with the help of two home runs and a Grand Slam in the next outing.
Against the Bulls, Syracuse's failures came on the defensive end, as the Orange booted several balls in the dirt in its opening loss, but then had the fight to defeat them in extra innings the following game.
Unlike Ross, Syracuse sophomore Hallie Gibbs may have an explanation for the unexpected inconsistency.
"I think everyone was pumped and ready to play, and I think that everyone maybe just expected it to come easier than it did," Gibbs said. "It was a mixture of a mindset of like, it's just going to come to us, and perhaps over-anxiousness or too much excitement."
Whatever the reason, Ross and the rest of the Orange aren't denying their poor play at times, and the fact that it shouldn't have occurred.
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