After Wednesday’s 2-1 win against Canisius, Syracuse softball head coach Mary Jo Firnbach challenged her offense.

With just four runs and 17 hits in the past five games, Firnbach said the bats needed to wake up. With six games remaining and having already clinched a spot in the Big East Tournament, Firnbach wanted to see results before postseason play begins.

The Orange responded the only way it knows how – by hitting home runs. Throw in a little Alexis Switenko pitching along with the awakened offensive barrage and SU swept Connecticut Friday afternoon with a mercy-rule, 12-2 win in game one and a 5-2 victory in the nightcap.

On Sunday, the Orange will formally honor senior captains Switenko and Cassie Morales when SU takes on Providence in a doubleheader beginning at noon.

SU wasted little time getting on the board. Freshman Tonye McCorkle led off game one against UConn with a long ball, the first of five hit by the Orange (33-19, 14-6 Big East) on the day.

‘That was a big confidence builder for a lot of them,’ Firnbach said. ‘Tonye’s done a great job of setting the tone for the game. If she can do that, everyone else just feels that much more confident stepping in.’

After McCorkle’s bomb, the shots kept on coming for the Orange, despite strong winds blowing in and toward right field.

‘The long ball came back for us,’ Firnbach said. ‘On some of them, I didn’t even know if they were going to go over the fence.’

While McCorkle has been a consistent force for the Orange, it also received contributions from unexpected sources.

Sophomore centerfielder Chanel Roehner hit two home runs in the first game, her fourth and fifth of the season. Mired in a slump, Roehner has batted ninth the past week after hitting second the majority of the season. With hits in both games against UConn (18-27, 5-13), she now has a five-game hitting streak since she was lowered in the order.

‘I love hitting ninth because the other team doesn’t expect you to do anything,’ Roehner said. ‘I think I get better pitches, too.’

Roehner said she sat herself down Thursday night before Friday’s doubleheader to straighten out her swing. Friday she recaptured the swing from her freshman campaign.

‘My swing was all over the place of late,’ Roehner said. ‘I told myself I would get it together.’

Every SU player notched a hit in game one. Freshman Kim Weinstein knocked in three runs and classmate Nicole Miller hit two doubles with an RBI.

But this weekend is all about the seniors Switenko and Morales. As usual, those two were right in the middle of the Orange’s success.

Switenko was 4-for-6 on the day, with four runs scored. She bashed her 15th home run of the year to dead center field in the first inning of game two.

Coming off of a one-hitter against South Florida last Sunday, Switenko pitched a complete game for the win in game two, improving her record in the circle to 13-3.

‘I’m not really doing anything different,’ Switenko said. ‘I think what works for me is that I can keep the ball off of the plate and (the umpire) was calling it today.’

At one point, Switenko had retired 16 batters in a row. She did not allow a baserunner between the second and sixth innings.

Morales hit her ninth home run of the year to put SU ahead for good in the fourth inning of game two. She hit her second career triple in game one, which knocked in two runs.

With only four home games left, the seniors are savoring every moment.

‘It’s kind of starting to set in for us,’ Switenko said. ‘We’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s our last time on the field.’ We’re just trying to enjoy it and win ballgames.’

Published on April 27, 2006 at 12:00 pm