It’s Opening DayAfter 34 games and road trips to Arizona, Texas, Florida and Indiana, the Syracuse softball team will play its first home games of the season today at 3:30 p.m. against Binghamton at the Syracuse Softball Stadium on South Campus.

Opening Day magicLast year Syracuse opened its home schedule with a 2-1 defeat of Notre Dame. It was just the second time the Orange had ever beaten the Irish and the first time since 2002. The Orange won the opener of the doubleheader in dramatic fashion, with pitcher Erin Downey wriggling out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the seventh inning to preserve the 2-1 victory. The Orange would lose the second game of the doubleheader, 7-5.

Home fortressLast year the Syracuse Softball Stadium proved to be a bastion for SU. The Orange compiled a 14-3 record last season in home games, including an 8-3 record against Big East opponents. Away from home last year, SU was 22-18.

Debut for RossAfter 34 games as Syracuse head coach, Leigh Ross will make her home debut today. Ross is excited to see her team finally play a home game and cited the facility as a major reason for why she came to Syracuse from Bowling Green after last season.’We have a great field and the guys who take care of it are top notch,’ Ross said. ‘I saw the field when I came to visit last summer, and it was beautiful. I’m looking forward to finally seeing it gameday.’

OpponentsThis year the Orange will open their home schedule against Binghamton, who enters today’s doubleheader with a 4-12 record, including a 1-2 mark in the America East Conference. The Bearcats are led by first-year head coach Ali Brian.