Former Minnesota starting catcher Emma Burns is transferring to Syracuse, she announced on social media on Wednesday.
Burns entered the transfer portal in November 2019 and did not participate in the abbreviated 2020 campaign. She has three years of eligibility remaining.
“After a few months of growth, self-reflection and life, I’m so excited to announce that I have found a new home to keep playing the game I love!” Burns wrote on Instagram. “I’m looking forward to being the best version of myself for this school and team and going to work in the ACC! I can’t thank my coaches enough… Syracuse, New York here I come.. GO ‘CUSE!”
Burns was the Gophers’ starting catcher during the team’s 2019 Women’s College World Series run, and was solid defensively, helping the program record the lowest percentage in team history for opponent’s stolen base percentage while catching eleven runners stealing.
At the plate, Burns hit .224 during her freshman campaign in ’19, knocking twelve extra base hits including seven home runs. Her first two career home runs came in the same game, against Louisiana-Monroe in week three of the season, and she scored a pair of runs in her team’s matchup against Washington at the WCWS.
Syracuse hit .231 as a team during the 2020 season, while the program’s pitching staff finished with a 3.41 ERA as a unit. Pitching ace Alexa Romero has already announced her plans to return for her senior season under the NCAA’s extended eligibility waiver in 2021.
