As Syracuse was warming up Tuesday afternoon inside Manley Field House for its doubleheader against Canisius, Sydney O’Hara was itching for game action.

The Orange hadn’t been on a softball field since March 15 against Towson and the sophomore was ready to get back on a field. O’Hara had been scorching hot at the plate before the break and was afraid she might not be the same following the hiatus.

But the games were canceled due to field conditions, making it SU’s fourth and fifth straight contests to be called off.

“Syd had a great week in Florida, but once she really got rolling, we have 10 days off,” assistant coach Matt Nandin said. “It’ll be tough to keep it going after being inside so long, but we think she’ll be OK.”

O’Hara — who leads the team with a .296 batting average and 16 RBIs — will look to remain hot in spite of the time off as Syracuse (12-14, 0-3 Atlantic Coast) plays Louisville (18-8, 8-1 ACC) in a Saturday doubleheader at SU Softball Stadium, SU’s first home games of the year, starting at 1 p.m.

In the past eight games, O’Hara hit .381 with eight hits, three home runs, nine RBIs and five runs scored. She credits her recent success to a change back to mechanics she is comfortable with.

“I’m athletic enough that (Nandin) felt comfortable making the adjustment and trying something new,” O’Hara said. “It didn’t work, so I switched back.”

Since this past fall, O’Hara and Nandin have been working together to improve her timing. The adjustment included O’Hara eliminating her stride and simply turning her hips.

Since she’s been on a tear, though, O’Hara has returned to striding, something she’s been used to doing her entire life.

Coupling with a return to her previous mechanics, Nandin thinks O’Hara has experienced an increase in power this year due to more extension after contact. This season O’Hara has extended her hands through balls thrown from the middle of the plate and toward the inside, whereas last year she would simply hit hard singles.

The hitting coach ran a drill where he would put a hitting screen blocking the outside part of home plate to force O’Hara to keep her hands tight to her body on her swing and then extend through the ball. Nandin first saw the work pay off against Long Beach State this season when the lefty hit a home run over the fence in right-center.

“I’m just in such a better spot hitting the ball now because I’m more comfortable,” O’Hara said.

In hopes that the success will carry into this weekend, SU has been taking a lot of live batting practice to simulate the games it’s missed. Without seeing live pitching, the team would struggle on its return to action, head coach Leigh Ross said.

The team hasn’t been able to practice outside and has been confined to Manley, a facility that doesn’t lend itself well to softball practice.

“It’s so frustrating not getting outside to play,” O’Hara said. “Obviously we can practice, but not having a clear field to go to is tough. The lighting in (Manley) makes it hard to see and hit the ball too.”

Throughout the time off, O’Hara has thought about her success and has reason to be confident which will help, Ross said. With a healthy mindset, she has worked hard in live batting practice, in the batting cage and on the tee to stay at the top of her game.

“If you’re working on something and it doesn’t translate into games, there’s no point in doing it,” Nandin said. “But it has worked for Sydney in games and I think she’ll continue to have confidence at the plate.

“We just need to have a game to play in now.”

Published on March 26, 2015 at 12:12 am

Contact Liam: lpsull01@syr.edu