Skytop Softball Stadium never looked so good to Leigh Ross. The outfield grass was unseasonably green, the sky was cloudless and the infield dirt was neatly raked.

But to the chagrin of the Syracuse head coach and her team, despite perfect weather conditions, outdoor games would have to wait.

‘Of course when it’s 70 (degrees) outside, we scheduled the Duel (at) the Dome,’ Ross said. ‘Of course that had to happen.’

After spending nearly two months on the road and playing its home opener against Colgate in the Carrier Dome two weeks ago, Syracuse (21-9, 2-1 Big East) will finally play outside at Skytop Softball Stadium for the first time this year in a weekend series against Seton Hall (18-18, 0-5 Big East). The Orange and the Pirates will play a doubleheader Friday at 3 p.m. and then a third game Saturday at noon.

Ross said playing in the Dome for the first time in program history in the Duel at the Dome was exciting and groundbreaking, but nothing beats the feeling of a game outside on SU’s home field.

It’s a feeling Ross and her players haven’t experienced for nearly a year. The Orange last played at its home stadium in its 2011 regular-season finale May 8 when it defeated Louisville 5-2.

‘It feels like forever since we’ve played here,’ Ross said before Tuesday’s practice. ‘We practice here all the time, but games are another thing.’

The Orange’s two home games couldn’t come at a better time for its offense. Although Syracuse won two out of three against St. John’s last weekend, the loss concerns Ross and hitting coach Wally King.

In that game, SU followed an 11-run, five home-run performance with a one-run, four-hit loss. Third baseman Carey-Leigh Thomas said the road games finally took their toll on SU’s hitters.

King said he tried to correct the flaws in his hitters’ mental approach at the plate this week during practice. With a full week to prepare at home, he thinks his players will respond.

‘We talk a lot about getting in the batter’s box and having a routine,’ King said. ‘Being home helps because players don’t have to stray too much from their routine. They can get up in the morning, roll out of bed, go to class and come here. They know the drill already.’

Freshmen haven’t played at Skytop Softball Stadium yet, but they already have a feel for the stadium from practices. Thomas anticipates that her Skytop debut will be ‘a lot less stressful’ than her Dome debut.

‘You get the home sense here,’ Thomas said. ‘We practice here all the time, and it’s nice not having to worry about traveling.’

The Syracuse players and coaches are hoping the comforts of home will be enough to ease the Orange’s up-and-down season at the plate. Last season, SU scored 46 more runs than their opponents at home.

Jasmine Watson thinks SU can boast a similar run differential at their home field this season. Even though she has six home runs during this long road stretch, Watson expects the SU offense to be more consistent in its familiar surroundings.

And the sophomore slugger thinks the comfort zone that comes with play at home will only help the Orange as it aims to take its second Big East series of the season.

‘It’s an advantage for us with the fans and the field,’ Watson said. ‘We want to win every inning, and being here helps us keep our focus that much more.’

nctoney@syr.edu

Published on April 4, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Nick: nctoney@syr.edu | @nicktoneytweets