Before Syracuse took on South Florida, Lisaira Daniels said the team wanted to get 10 hits and score in each inning of every game. The Orange has gone into all of its games with that same goal.

And before that series in the first weekend of April, SU was often close to achieving that goal. The Orange had at least 10 hits in six of its last seven games — part of an eight-game winning streak that saw the team score 38 runs in a three-game sweep at Rutgers.

Daniels was confident that production would continue.

‘Our main objective is just to have everyone keep doing what they’re doing,’ Daniels said. ‘Everyone’s been producing from one through nine … whether it’s a big home run or grand slam to keep securing the runs.’

But in 10 games since the Rutgers series, Syracuse (29-10, 8-5 Big East) has only achieved its 10-hit goal twice. The offensive woes contributed to a five-game losing streak and still remain a concern for SU, despite having won its last five games. The Orange is looking to find consistency at the plate in a doubleheader Friday at UMass (18-14, 8-3 Atlantic 10).

Junior pitcher Jenna Caira said the lineup has to start reaching the 10-hit mark again. With Caira back on track in the circle after a tough weekend against Notre Dame, SU just needs its offense to find the same comfort zone it had earlier in the season.

SU head coach Leigh Ross said her team can’t start thinking too much at the plate. When players start to overanalyze their swings or the situation, they put themselves at a disadvantage.

‘There’s a point where you think, and then you shut it down and you just go,’ Ross said. ‘And you react and you just make things happen.’

Syracuse made things happen at the plate in its second game against Villanova last weekend. The Orange used a six-run third inning to jump out to a 9-0 lead and cruised to a 10-1 win. The team sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning, highlighted by three doubles and two home runs.

For the rest of the weekend, though, the lineup was quiet.

SU had just one hit through four innings of the opener and only scored two runs in the win. In the final game of the series, the Orange sent all nine hitters to the plate and scored three runs in the first inning. But the team also left the bases loaded and only managed three more runs in the final five innings.

Ross said when the SU lineup is clicking, the rest of the game is easier. The players can relax more on defense if the team builds a lead at the plate.

‘If we can just kind of be real aggressive and jump on good pitches,’ Ross said, ‘that always makes you feel a little better when you’re going back onto the field playing defense.’

Center fielder Veronica Grant said the pitching staff’s performance last weekend was also encouraging for the team’s hitters. With Caira keeping Villanova off the board all weekend, the lineup felt no pressure and could stay patient.

‘It relaxes us at the plate,’ Grant said. ‘Gives us a big opportunity to see pitches and jump on what we want instead of having to chase pitches.’

Now SU just has to use that patience to its advantage to score runs. Grant said the hitters need to give the pitching staff the same support it gave them against Villanova. By scoring runs, the pitchers can stick to their game plan and mix their pitches to keep the other team off balance.

After the Rutgers series, Daniels said the team wasn’t going to change its preparation or mindset. Especially since SU was riding an eight-game winning streak at the time. She said Syracuse simply needed to keep the same approach.

The team is currently on a five-game winning streak, and Grant echoed that sentiment as the team prepares for UMass.

‘Same thing we’ve been doing,’ Grant said. ‘Keep hitting. Keep our pitching strong. Put up numbers on the board.’

rjgery@syr.edu

Published on April 20, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Ryne: rjgery@syr.edu