When Syracuse steps onto the field against Louisville Wednesday, it will be more than just another Big East doubleheader.

The Orange is fighting history. A history of Cardinals dominance over SU.

Louisville is consistently near the top of the Big East standings. Syracuse is typically in the middle of the pack. Louisville has won eight of nine games against the Orange all-time, and Syracuse has never won on the Cardinals’ home field.

‘This is a big day for us to prove (ourselves),’ head coach Leigh Ross said. ‘(Assistant) coach (Wally) King said it a few weekends back. ‘It’s time to prove if you’re pretenders or contenders.”

The Orange (23-17, 7-4 Big East) is third in the Big East standings, and Louisville (27-15, 6-5) is tied for fifth. A pair of wins in Wednesday’s doubleheader would strengthen the Orange’s hold on a top-three position. The Orange would put itself in prime contention for second place.

It would be two wins over a team that SU beat for the first time in school history last season — a pretty bold statement for the Orange to make.

A statement to catch the attention of the rest of the Big East.

‘In the Big East, we’re known as the underdogs,’ sophomore Lisaira Daniels said. ‘People don’t pay as much attention to us. (They think) that they can just run all over us. It’s really important for us to win.’

In order for Syracuse to make that statement, it must get off to a quick start. The difference between the wins and losses in Big East play for the Orange is intensity at the start of games. The team has proven that when it comes out of the gate focused, it can play with anybody.

‘We love being visitors,’ sophomore Stephanie Watts said. ‘If we score in the first couple innings, that keeps the morale high for the rest of the game.’

The Orange is coming off a weekend series in which it took two of three from Villanova. The team finished on a strong note, blowing out the Wildcats 11-1 Sunday. Jenna Caira was the winning pitcher in both of the games.

Louisville played Big East powerhouse Notre Dame last weekend and handed the Fighting Irish its first loss in conference play all season. Part of the reason that Louisville is behind Syracuse in the standings is that the Cardinals are 2-4 against the top two teams in the Big East — Notre Dame and DePaul.

Meanwhile, Syracuse has not played a team better than ninth in the Big East. The Orange did play 10 games against ranked teams in nonconference play. But those were weeks ago, and Syracuse went 1-9 in those 10 games.  

Ross still sees the experience against those ranked teams as an advantage. Syracuse also has experience against Louisville’s ace pitcher, Kristen Wadwell. The Orange scored eight runs in the nine and one-third innings Wadwell pitched against the team last season.

‘I think we played teams that are higher than Louisville’s caliber,’ Ross said. ‘The key for us is to get past (Wadwell). By looking at (Louisville’s) record and the way things are going, teams are getting on her early. If we can get past Wadwell, then we’ll have a good shot.’

Syracuse also has to worry about Louisville’s leadoff hitter and catcher, Melissa Roth. Roth leads the Big East as of Sunday with a .455 batting average and 14 home runs. She’s also a dual threat, with 13 stolen bases in 15 attempts.

Roth hit two doubles in the two games against Syracuse last season.

‘Maybe she’ll have a bad day,’ Ross said laughing.

The Orange would be 9-4 in conference with a sweep Wednesday and in prime position to set itself up with a good seed for the Big East tournament. Syracuse has not won a game in the tournament since 2005.

History points against the Orange. But this year’s team feels like it can reverse that.

‘If we beat Louisville, nothing can get in our way,’ Daniels said. ‘I don’t want to predict the future, but I would love to win both games.’

mcooperj@syr.edu

 

Published on April 19, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Contact Mark: mcooperj@syr.edu | @mark_cooperjr