Syracuse University
Maryland (Seminole Classic)
Orangewomen Split on First Day of Seminole Classic
2/15/2002 9:40:52 PM | Softball
Maryland Box Score
Florida State Box Score
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Senior pitcher Heather Brown (Farmington, N.M./Farmington) struck out 10 to lead the Syracuse softball team to a 3-1 victory versus Maryland in their season opener at the Seminole Classic hosted by Florida State on Friday, Feb. 15. Syracuse lost its second game of the day, 6-3, to the 15th-ranked Seminoles.
Junior Christina Holowich (Castro Valley, Calif./Moreau Catholic) led the SU offense with three hits in four at-bats against the Terrapins. Classmate Kristen Collins (Stow, Mass./Nashoba Regional) collected two hits and drove in a run, while sophomore Rachel Park (Mt. Juliet, Tenn./Friendship Christian) drove in two runs with a single.
The Orangewomen (1-1) took a 2-0 lead in the top half of the third inning versus Maryland (4-3). Back-to-back singles by Holowich and Collins and a sacrifice by freshman Katie Kaempfer (Las Vegas, Nev./Bonanza) set the table for Park's two-RBI single. Syracuse put an insurance run on the board in the top of the sixth when Collins singled to right field to score freshman Tanya Rose (Milwaukie, Ore./Rex Putnam). Rose reached on an error to start the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice by junior Julie Dunn (Springfield, Ill./Springfield).
The Terrapins rallied in the bottom of the seventh for their only run. A single and two errors loaded the bases with one out. Brown induced a foul out to third base for the second out, but another Syracuse error allowed the run to score. The Orangewomen clinched the game when freshman third baseman Taylor Petersen (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) made the play on a foul ball down the third base line.
Brown scattered three hits and allowed only one unearned run in the complete-game victory. Amanda Bettker was the losing pitcher. She gave up two runs on four hits in two and one-third innings of work. Bettker is now 0-3 on the season. Jessica Aditays pitched four and two-thirds innings of relief, allowing one unearned run and two hits.
It is the second consecutive season that the Orangewomen have started with a win. Last year, SU defeated Northern Illinois, 7-3, at the Tiger Invitational hosted by Auburn.
In the nightcap, the Seminoles (6-4) scored a run in each of the first three innings to jump out to a 3-0 lead. Shandra Colzie led off the game with a single to center and moved to second on a sacrifice. Colzie then stole third base and scored when the throw bounced away into short left field. FSU put its second run on the board in the second inning on an RBI single by Colzie that scored Julie Jordan. Jessica van der Linden provided the offense in the third inning with a run-scoring double. FSU plated three more runs in the fifth. Kimmy Carter and van der Linden each drove in runs.
The Orangewomen plated their first run in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Junior Jenn Read (Vancouver, B.C./Terry Fox) started the two-out rally with a walk and moved to second on a single by Collins. Holowich drove in the run with her first hit of the game.
Syracuse mounted a comeback effort in the bottom of the seventh, plating two runs. Dunn pinch hit Read to lead off the inning and reached on a walk. Read re-entered the game and scored when Collins doubled down the left field line. Holowich drove in the second run of the inning with a double to right center.
Junior pitcher Tara DiMaggio (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) suffered the loss for the Orangewomen. She gave up six runs, four of them earned, on six hits and struck out six. Casey Hunter tossed a complete-game for the Seminoles in her first career start. She allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out six.
Holowich led Syracuse with five hits, including two doubles, in the two games. Collins also had a strong start at the plate with four hits. Rose collected the first two hits of her career, both singles, in the second game of the day.
Syracuse continues play in the Seminole Classic on Saturday when they take on Georgia at 12 p.m. and St. John's at 6 p.m. Fans can follow the action with live in game stats by clicking here.
