Softball Kicks Off 2016 Season in Las Vegas

Game 1: Syracuse vs. Long Beach State
Game Details	Friday, Feb. 12 \| Las Vegas, Nev. (UNLV) \| 1:30 p.m. PT
Live Stats	SIDEARM

Game 2: Syracuse vs. Lamar
Game Details	Friday, Feb. 12 \| Las Vegas, Nev. (UNLV) \| 3:45 p.m. PT
Live Stats	SIDEARM

Game 3: Syracuse vs. No. 9 Oklahoma
Game Details	Saturday, Feb. 13 \| Las Vegas, Nev. (UNLV) \| 3:45 p.m. PT
Live Stats	SIDEARM

Game 4: Syracuse vs. UNLV
Game Details	Saturday, Feb. 13 \| Las Vegas, Nev. (UNLV) \| 6 p.m. PT
Live Stats	Live Stats \| Video

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse softball team kicks off the 2016 season this weekend at the Sportco Kick Off Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. The first pitch of is set for Friday, Feb. 12 at 1:30 p.m. against Long Beach State. The matchup is the first of two on Friday as the Orange will finish with Lamar at 3:45 p.m.

Syracuse will wrap up the Sportco Kick Off Classic against No. 9 Oklahoma and the host UNLV on Saturday, Feb. 13. Game times are set for 3:45 p.m. and 6 p.m. All times are Pacific.

OPENING WEEKEND PREVIEW
Syracuse faces-off against a familiar opponent in its first trial of the season against Long Beach State, as the Orange are looking to bounce back from a 4-2 loss last season at the Mary Nutter Classic. The squads have met five times in the last four seasons, with the Orange last snatching two series wins during the 2012 season. The 49ers finished the 2015 season with a 28-24 overall record and a 15-8 finish in the Big West.

The Orange then match up against Lamar in the two programs first ever meeting between each other. The Cardinals are coming off of a 26-28 record from the 2015 season, including a 14-10 conference record.

On Saturday, Syracuse faces its first ranked opponent of the season when it takes on No. 9 Oklahoma. The two squads met two seasons ago at the Mary Nutter Classic, where the Orange came up short 6-2. The Sooners are coming off of a Big 12 Conference title and a 49-9 overall finish in 2015. OU won its 13th straight NCAA Regional game this past season, qualifying for its sixth straight NCAA Super Regional appearance.

Lastly, Syracuse matches up against the host UNLV on Saturday, marking the first meeting in 13 years between the two schools. The Orange and the Rebels met for the first time during the 2003 season in a two-game series, where UNLV posted victories in both matchups. Last season, the Rebels finished with a 25-30 overall mark and an 11-13 finish in the Mountain West Conference.

SEASON OPPONENT PREVIEW
Syracuse faces 12 teams this season that made NCAA Tournament appearances last year (Binghamton, UCF, Florida State, Fordham, Oklahoma, CSU Northridge, Hofstra, Louisville, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, and UCLA) along with six teams featured in the first USA Today/NFCA Coaches Top 25 poll, including this weekend's opponent No. 9 Oklahoma. The rest include No. 7 UCLA, No. 10 Florida State, No. 17 UCF, No. 23 NC State, and No. 24 Notre Dame.

THE GIRLS ARE BACK IN TOWN
The Orange return all four above-.300 hitters from last season, which include All-ACC honorees Corinne Ozanne and Maddi Doane, Sydney O'Hara, and Sammy Fernandez. Ozanne posted a team-best .344 batting average, O'Hara a .321, Doane a .312, and Fernandez an even .300.

'Cuse also welcomes back top pitchers Jocelyn Cater and Sydney O'Hara from last season. Cater posted a team-best 3.79 ERA over the course of 35 appearances, while finishing 26th in the nation in strikeouts with 236.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Senior Corinne Ozanne returns for her final season in a Syracuse uniform, looking to build on her continued success at the plate. The infielder is coming off of a 2015 campaign that included a .713 slugging percentage, 13 home runs, 32 RBIs, and 28 runs. The All-ACC Second Team honoree finished last season ranked in the top five in the conference in four statistical categories: fifth in home runs per game (0.28), second in on base percentage (.509), fourth in slugging percentage (.713), and fourth in walks (0.76).

- Sophomore Maddi Doane is coming off of an impressive rookie campaign that earned her All-ACC Second Team honors. She led the 2015 Orange with 48 hits, 21 extra base hits (16 doubles, three triples, three home runs), and 32 runs scored. Her 30 runs batted was the third-most by a 'Cuse hitter. The outfielder finished ranked second in the ACC and 25th in the nation in doubles per game (0.35).

- Sophomore Sammy Fernandez returns from an excellent rookie season as well. She finished the 2015 season with a .300 batting average, 25 runs, 42 hits, and 9 runs batted in. Fernandez also dominated defensively, ending the season with a .925 fielding percentage.

NEW SEASON, NEW COACHES
- Head coach Mike Bosch took leadership of the Orange softball program in June 2015 as the interim head coach after serving as an assistant coach with the program for three seasons and was appointed head coach in August 2015. In 2011, Bosch was part of a BIG EAST champion Syracuse squad that broke program single-season records for wins, strikeouts, shutouts, opponent batting average and earned run average. He coached Orange All-American Jenna Caira, who earned 2011 BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year and ECAC Pitcher of the Year honors. Syracuse advanced to the NCAA Regionals and the Orange coaching staff was named the NFCA Great Lakes Region Coaching Staff of the Year. The Orange returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2012.

- Assistant Coach Alisa Goler joined the Orange in August 2015 after serving at the hitting coach at Roosevelt University in 2014-15. She set University of Georgia records for home runs (58), runs batted in (236), walks (184), slugging percentage (.686), games with multiple home runs (9), and grand slams (4). After wrapping up a highly decorated career at Georgia, Goler was drafted by the NPF's Chicago Bandits in 2011, where she earned league Rookie of the Year honors and was an All-NPF selection. She played four seasons with the Bandits until signing a free agent contract with the Pennsylvania Rebellion in 2015.

- Assistant Coach Kristyn Sandberg joined the Orange coaching staff in August 2015 after serving as a graduate manager at Louisiana State University for three seasons, including the Tigers 2015 run to the Women's College World Series. Sandberg completed her collegiate playing career ranked in the top 10 in several offensive categories, including home runs (fourth), slugging percentage (sixth) and walks (fifth). In 2012, Sandberg was drafted by the USSSA Pride, garnering Rookie of the Year honors after finishing in the top in multiple categories. Sandberg was traded to the Pennsylvania Rebellion in 2015.

For all of the latest information on Syracuse softball, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Softball), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseSB), and Instagram (@cusepics &@cusesb).

Syracuse University Athletics

Related News

Players Mentioned

Jocelyn Cater

Maddi Doane

Sammy Fernandez

Sydney O'Hara

Corinne Ozanne

Related Videos