Syracuse dominates first-ever game in the Dome

Home plate was near the 50-yard line, field goal posts were used as foul poles, and bases were mounted into the turf of Ernie Davis Legends Field for the first ever softball game in the Carrier Dome on Friday night.

"It was so much fun, great energy in here," head coach Leigh Ross said. "The girls were extra excited to have so many fans here."

Photo: Cheryl Mowczan

Behind home plate on Friday night's matchup between Syracuse and Colgate

The Orange put on a good show for the home fans in the 6-0 victory against Colgate. Syracuse was led by a strong pitching performance from senior Jenna Caira, who finished her day after five innings. Caira struck out seven batters and gave up just one hit.

After earning All-Big East accolades last season as a junior, Caira has returned for her final year and looks to repeat the performance that brought her team into the NCAA tournament last season. Caira earned her 100th strike out of the season tonight, but the excitement of playing in the Carrier Dome overshadowed the accomplishment.

"It' s a lot of fun, being able to share this with the community," she said. "That's who's out here coming to watch and support us."

Carey-Leigh Thomas now holds the honor of being the first person ever to hit a home run inside the Carrier Dome. She hit a three-run shot during her first at bat of the game. She was the only person to hit a home run Friday but the Orange will get another chance tomorrow night at 6 p.m. against Canisius.

"I was ecstatic," Thomas said about her home run. "I'm glad that my family was here to see it..."

Lacey Kohl and Morgan Nandin also picked up RBIs tonight. Kohl hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field. It looked like it was going to find the stands but then fell just short into left fielder Haley Fleming's glove. Nandin picked up her RBI on a single to right field.

Coach Ross said after the game that nothing was too different for her team on Friday. They just went out and played the game. But, right fielder Shirley Daniels had a slighty different experience after she had to slide on a steal of second base. 

"My neck, like, bounced up," Daniels said. "It was kinda weird, I wasn't ready for that."

Daniels was worried for a moment that she had hurt herself, but she said after the game that she was fine. Aside from that incident, both the coaches and the players were happy with the event and look forward to doing it again.

Duel at the Dome

See what SU officials, players and fans had to say about the first-ever game in the Carrier Dome