The Orange Softball team left for Texas this morning with a different feeling surrounding the team then they felt last year. Making the NCAA Tournament for the first time last year had a romantic feel to it, but this time the team is playing for keeps, and hoping they've already proven they belong there. "That was our goal this year," says Head Coach Leigh Ross, "to show everybody that we're not a Cinderella story. We're a good team and we've really put a lot of work in the last four years to get to this point. So I think back to back kind of shows everybody that we aren't a fluke, this is what you can expect from Syracuse Softball and it also paves the way for future teams."
The Orange are led by Big East Pitcher of the Year Jenna Caira. The Toronto native has already made Orange history with 34 winds this season, but hope to make even more history with an eventually National Title, starting with LSU on Friday.
"LSU is a very good team so I think it's gonna be an intense game," predicts we can't take them lightly they have great hitting and great pitching so we just have to make sure we fiocus in and play our game. We're really excited this is our 2ne time going to regionals and we're just really happy to be a part of it."
Click on the video tab for more from the team as they depart for Texas. A full preview from SU Athletics follows below.
Syracuse (44-11) will face LSU (38-16) in the NCAA Division I Softball Tournament Regional in College Station, Texas on Friday, May 20. The Orange secured its second consecutive automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after winning its second straight BIG EAST Tournament Championship on Saturday, May 14. The regional also features the host institution, Texas A&M, who will matchup against Sacred Heart.
"I think it's exciting to be able to travel somewhere different down to Texas and see what we can do," said head coach Leigh Ross.
This marks the second NCAA Tournament appearance in program history for the Orange. Syracuse will look to record its first tournament victory after losing to No. 14 Oklahoma and Maryland at the 2010 regional in College Park, Md. "With last year's NCAA appearance under our belt, we have a better feeling of what to expect," said Ross. "With the experience we have with the upperclassman and the success that they've had, we are more comfortable in these situations. The team is getting used to winning. We know that LSU is going to be tough, but we faced them last year so we are kind of familiar with what they have."
In five seasons at the helm of the program, coach Ross has a record of 148-121. She has led the Orange to its first two BIG EAST titles and NCAA appearances in program history. The program has grown in national prominence this season, appearing in the national rankings for the first time in program history. SU claimed the No. 25 spot in the USA Today/NFCA Division I poll on March 8 after opening with the best start in school history with a 16-3 record. Heading into the NCAA Tournament, Syracuse is riding a program-best 14 game winning streak that extends back to April 26 versus Villanova. The Orange secured three of those wins en route to its second consecutive conference title, defeating No. 6 Pittsburgh, No. 2 DePaul and No. 5 Louisville.
Syracuse is led by BIG EAST Conference Pitcher of the Year and All-BIG EAST First Team honoree Jenna Caira. The junior has a program-best 34 wins this season (34-9). She was named BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player and an all-tournament team selection. Teammates, junior first baseman Kelly Saco, junior second baseman Stephanie Watts , sophomore shortstop Morgan Nandin and junior outfielder Lisaira Daniels joined Caira on the all-tournament team. The NCAA Tournament is a 64 team format, which includes 30 teams who earn automatic bids by winning their respective conference championships and 34 teams that receive at large bids. There are 16 four-team regional rounds that are double elimination.
**Courtesy SU Athletics**
