Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believin” blared through the Syracuse Softball Stadium speakers in between games during Sunday’s doubleheader against No. 25 DePaul.

It may as well be the theme song for this year’s Orange.

Just a few minutes earlier, the Orange secured its first win against a ranked team in miraculous fashion. A few hours later Syracuse stormed its home field in jubilation not once, but twice, to celebrate a sweep against the Blue Demons, winning, 5-4 and 8-1, in front of 98.

Not bad for a home-opening weekend. Combined with the school’s first win against Notre Dame in four years on Saturday, the three wins over conference powers represents the best weekend in the program’s seven-year history. SU swept a doubleheader against a ranked team for the first time in its history. When Tuesday’s polls are released, SU could receive votes for the first time this season.

‘They keep surprising me at times,’ SU head coach Mary Jo Firnbach said. ‘Different people are coming out of the woodwork and stepping up when needed.’

Alexis Switenko has been one constant, and she made the difference in the one-run game. Switenko relieved starter Erin Downey in the seventh inning to close the door. The real save didn’t come in the pitching circle, but at the plate when Switkeno tagged out Sara Bandauski after a wild pitch to win the game.

The Orange then won the second game by scoring six runs combined in the fifth and sixth innings.

SU (22-15, 10-2 Big East) struggled through a difficult non-conference schedule with its group of freshmen, but after returning from its spring break trip in California, Firnbach has noticed consistency in her players.

‘We knew the potential was there,’ Firnbach said. ‘But honestly we just didn’t know what was going to happen.

‘I couldn’t be happier right now.’

And neither could the fans. Playing for the first time in front of a home crowd, it was obvious the team enjoyed, for once, having the fans cheer on the Orange. Before this weekend, SU played on its home field just four times, all practices.

It’s about the little things SU could finally appreciate by being home – even if the temperature hovered around the low 40s.

Sophomore outfielder Chanel Roehner blasted a two-run home run over the left field scoreboard to cap off the four-run sixth inning, sending the crowd to its feet in the second game against DePaul. Her dad was able to retrieve the ball from the parking lot and handed it to a shocked Roehner after the game.

‘It’s good to be home,’ senior Cassie Morales said. ‘It’s fun seeing your friends at the game and hearing a bunch of people yelling your name.’

The team used the energy it received from the crowd and it showed against DePaul (18-11, 5-3).

In the sixth inning of the second game, Switenko hammered what looked like a possible game-ending home run because of the mercy rule. The team rushed home plate, but the ball never went over the wall; it landed at the base. Freshman Heather Kim was thrown out at the plate, forcing a seventh inning to be played.

But when Linda Secka grounded out to Kim at first base to complete the sweep, the Orange really could celebrate. The team ran out to the pitching circle and congratulated Switenko, who finished off the complete game, allowing only one unearned run.

‘When something happens our way, to hear the roar of the crowd, it’s really exciting,’ Switenko said. ‘Everyone’s going to be gunning for us now.’

With a 10-2 Big East record, the Orange finds itself in third place, trailing only conference undefeated South Florida and Notre Dame, which has only lost once, at the hands of SU. It is Syracuse’s best start in conference play ever.

Prior to Saturday’s split against Notre Dame, SU was 1-11 all-time against the Irish. For seniors Switenko and Morales, it was the first time they could taste victory against Notre Dame, the team that knocked the Orange out of the Big East tournament in 2005.

‘I was really excited to get at Notre Dame,’ Morales said. ‘Finally, after four years we could beat them. It was amazing.’

Firnbach was hoping for a split of the weekend contests, but the result is beyond what she imagined. One year removed from winning its first postseason game in school history, and now SU resembles a conference power.

‘We don’t want to send too much of a message; we like to go through the Big East quietly,’ Firnbach said. ‘I think these young ladies have really set a tone. They’re showing some youth isn’t such a bad thing.’

At this point, the annual underdogs of the conference just want to hold onto that feeling which has helped them to where they are.

‘We’re just trying to play Syracuse softball,’ Firnbach said. ‘We’re trying to be the team that other teams want to beat, whether they’re in conference or not.’

Published on April 8, 2006 at 12:00 pm