Syracuse Softball is Finally Back Home

By Cole Purvis | @Cole_Purvis

After 25 games away from Skytop Softball Stadium, Syracuse softball (17-8, 1-5 ACC) finally opens up its home schedule today. The Orange face the Purple Eagles of Niagara (2-8) in a doubleheader between two New York foes.

SU comes into the home opener carrying some momentum after beating then No. 17 Duke in the third of three games against the Blue Devils. In that game, pitcher Madison Knight threw all seven innings, as well as hitting the game winning home run to break a 2-2 tie in the top of the last inning. She, like the team, comes into Wednesday with as much momentum as ever. 

Assuming the junior gets the nod in one of today’s contests, Niagara will be up for a mighty challenge. However, the Purple Eagles, despite having lost seven in a row, have produced offensively this season, averaging a respectable five runs per game. This will push the Syracuse offense to have to be on its game.

The bats have been quiet over the past couple of weeks, especially early in games. Syracuse did not score a run in the first three innings in five consecutive games, until the Orange snapped that bad trend, scoring two runs in the first inning against Duke en route to a win. Today’s doubleheader is an opportunity to jump on an opponent early and not let up.

What makes the twin-bill against Niagara especially important is that SU’s upcoming schedule is going to get tough. The Orange will welcome in Clemson for a three game series this weekend. After that, it is pretty much the thick of ACC play. Syracuse needs to take care of business against the lesser opponents it plays, because a slip-up against Niagara would not bode well for SU’s chances against the top teams in the ACC.

Let’s go a little more in-depth on Niagara, a squad out of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The Purple Eagles are coming off of four tough losses down in Florida, falling to fellow mid-majors such as Long Island (who Syracuse beat twice earlier this season), Central Michigan, and Chattanooga. They are led by infielder Hailey Cenname, who will come to SU Softball Stadium Wednesday boasting a .400 batting average. 

Overall, Wednesday should be a reason for celebration for SU softball. After a long winter away from home, the Orange finally get to showcase their game to local fans, and on a day that projects to be uncharacteristically warm for a late-March day in Upstate New York, it should be fun to see how things play out.

For live coverage of SU’s home opener, follow @Cole_Purvis and @CitrusTVSports on X.