Jolene Henderson’s changeup had Syracuse’s lineup on the ropes.

The Orange was early on the California pitcher’s off-speed pitches and couldn’t catch up to her fastballs. And outfielder Shirley Daniels said none of her teammates could predict what was coming next.

‘We had a little trouble with her (Henderson),’ Daniels said. ‘It took us a while to settle in.’

Eventually, the SU offense did manage to settle in and break through against the Golden Bears. Outfielder Lisaira Daniels hit a single to start the seventh inning, and then Jasmine Watson brought her home with her second home run of the game.

Despite being three-hit against the top-ranked Bears and No. 16 Arizona in losses, assistant head coach Wally King said the Orange made key adjustments at the plate, and during the 6-3 loss to California, those adjustments finally worked when the offense came alive. King said the team is looking to build on that momentum moving forward in the season.

‘We started to lay off bad pitches, wait to hit balls down in the zone and stay more balanced,’ King said. ‘We usually struggled with high-ball pitchers, but we saw some things that’ll make it easier for us this season. And we’ll look to build on that going forward.’

The Orange has time to iron out any offensive kinks this week. After last weekend’s Kajikawa Classic, SU doesn’t play again until Feb. 24 when it takes on Pacific at the Cathedral Classic tournament in Palm Springs, Calif.

Though the break gives Syracuse time to continue to improve, not every SU hitter appreciates having the week off considering it could ruin the momentum the Orange built. Lisaira Daniels said building on that breakout seventh inning against the Bears might be difficult without a game this week.

‘Some players like (the week off), some players don’t,’ Lisaira Daniels said. ‘We need to be prepared either way.’

This weekend, the Orange will simulate pressure at-bats during an intrasquad game. And King said the team plans to place an emphasis on consistency at the plate. Before outfielders met at Manley Field House on Tuesday, King threw batting practice and gave hitters advice on laying off bad pitches.

‘There will be some games where the pitcher we face will throw an absolute gem,’ King said. ‘We try and work through the rough stretches, though.’

Two very different pitchers caused SU’s rough stretches last weekend, but King said the team can learn from both losses.

Henderson was the Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year last season for Cal, pitching two no-hitters and a perfect game in 2011. But Arizona’s Jessica Spigner, usually a third baseman, three-hit the Orange in an emergency start for injured pitcher Kenzie Fowler.

Until that seventh inning, Henderson and Spigner were able to do what no SU opponent did in the Kajikawa Classic: contain the SU offense.

On Friday night against Cal State Northridge, the Orange had 12 hits in a 10-2 win. King said Watson set the tone at the plate by hitting a two-run home run in the first inning, and senior Kelly Saco helped with her three RBIs.

Against McNeese State on Saturday morning, SU kept its hot streak at the plate going. Shortstop Morgan Nandin set a school record with seven RBIs in the Orange’s 11-2 win.

That all changed against better teams, though. Shirley Daniels said playing ranked competition will only help SU’s offense in the long run.

‘We’re playing better teams, so naturally, we’ll get better,’ Daniels said.

And if the Orange wants to meet and exceed its expectations this season, King said batters will need to get used to better pitchers.

‘We want to win a regional, not just make a regional anymore,’ King said. ‘And to do that, you’re going to need to beat the type of teams you’ll be seeing in the postseason.’

nctoney@syr.edu

 

Published on February 14, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Nick: nctoney@syr.edu | @nicktoneytweets