Neither Leigh Ross nor Matt Nandin expected Sammy Fernandez to hit leadoff for Syracuse this season.

Approaching Syracuse’s first game, Ross, SU’s head coach, slated her starting shortstop to hit ninth in the order.

“Sammy has done way more than we ever expected as a freshman,” Ross said. “We wanted something fresh in the leadoff spot and Sammy has only exceeded all expectations.”

Fernandez became a slap hitter in her freshman year of high school after switching from the right side of the plate to the left, which has helped her make contact in the leadoff spot more. The freshman got off to a scorching start at the plate and as the season progressed, forced Ross to move her up to second in the order, and, for the last nine games, to leadoff.

Fernandez — who leads the team with 25 hits and 15 runs — will look to stay hot in the leadoff spot as Syracuse (12-14, 0-3 Atlantic Coast) plays Canisius (8-9) in a Tuesday doubleheader at Skytop Softball Stadium, SU’s first home games of the year, starting at 3 p.m.

“I feel good up there (at the plate),” Fernandez said. “I’m seeing the ball well and being patient. I just want to get on base so my teammates can bring me home.”

Freshman Maddi Doane began the season as the leadoff hitter and now hits second. They are both very similar hitters, Ross said, and while she trusts either to fill the crucial leadoff spot, the head coach thinks Fernandez is more productive at the plate right now.

While Fernandez has only hit safely in four of her last 27 plate appearances, she’s only struck out five times during that span. She has the lowest strikeout percentage of anyone on the team with more than 10 at-bats, striking out only nine times in her 87 plate appearances.

And while Fernandez may not be reaching base as often recently, she’s consistently putting the ball in play.

“It’s so important for us to be tough outs and make them make a play on us,” Ross said. “It’s tough to lead off a game because you don’t know what to expect. She doesn’t have the advantage of watching someone in front of her and she still puts it in play.”

The freshman credits her rise to the top of the lineup to work with Nandin, who’s helped slow Fernandez down when she’s slapping the ball. Fernandez said she has a tendency to run out of the box too fast and not make as solid of contact as she could.

But Nandin said Fernandez has established herself as a reliable slap hitter after switching to the left side, and is now starting to focus on hitting for power and making herself tougher for defenses to approach.

“She’s doing well now and she’s more one-dimensional,” Nandin said. “I want her to develop that consistent power because who knows what she’d be capable of.”

For a freshman to have the mindset and knowledge Fernandez has is rare, Ross said. She possesses a patient and calm approach that lends itself well to hitting leadoff.

Fernandez sees a lot of pitches, helping the hitters behind her understand opposing pitchers by relaying information about the spin on pitches, location, pitch preferences in certain counts and approaches to fellow left-handed hitters.

And whether it’s reaping the benefits herself or passing them down to others, Fernandez is progressing efficiently in a spot her coaches never thought they’d see her in.

“She’s obviously hitting the ball for contact as well as anyone else on the team right now,” Nandin said. “As the season goes on, look for her to only improve. She’s just getting started.”

Published on March 24, 2015 at 12:08 am

Contact Liam: [email protected]