Syracuse University
Penn State
Orangewomen Lose Two At Penn State
4/17/2002 8:35:28 PM | Softball
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Syracuse softball team lost both ends of a doubleheader to Penn State, 6-1 and 5-3, on Wednesday, April 17 at Nittany Lion Park. It was the first time that the Orangewomen have been swept in a twin bill this season and their first back-to-back losses since losing to 25th-ranked Wisconsin on March 16 and Hofstra on March 29.
The Orangewomen are now 17-13, while Penn State improved to 22-20.
Penn State exploded for five runs on seven hits in the bottom of the first inning of the opener. After striking out the first hitter, SU starting pitcher Taylor Petersen (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) gave up five straight hits. Megan Humphrey drove in a run with a double, and Barbie Pierce plated PSU's final run of the inning with a single to center. The Nittanly Lions added another run in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Erin Norton.
Petersen lasted two-thirds of an inning before being relieved by junior Tara DiMaggio (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay). Petersen took the loss, her first of the season (5-1). Marisa Hanson was the winner, giving up one run on four hits in seven innings. Hanson is now 11-9 for the season.
Syracuse scored its only run of the game in the seventh. Freshman Tanya Rose (Milwaukie, Ore./Rex Putnam) drove in the run with a double, scoring redshirt sophomore Cheryl Julicher (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville North) who led off with a single.
Penn State again jumped out early in the nightcap, plating a run in the first inning. Erin Norton did the honors with a sacrifice fly. The Orangewomen tied the score in the top of the second on an RBI single by junior Kristen Collins (Stow, Mass./Nashoba Regional).
The Nittany Lions took a 2-1 lead in the second. Jennifer Tripken singled to start the inning and stole second base. Tripken stole third and scored when the throw went into left field. Penn State tacked on three more in the third. Norton drove in a run with a single and then later scored on a wild pitch. PSU scored their third run of the inning on a double steal of second and home.
The Orangewomen mounted another rally in the top of the fourth. After back-to-back singles and a sacrifice put runners in scoring position with one out, junior shortstop Jenn Read (Vancouver, B.C./Terry Fox) doubled to the gap in left-center to score both runs.
Senior Heather Brown (Farmington, N.M./Farmington) took the loss for Syracuse. She is now 5-7 on the season. Brown allowed five runs, four of them earned, and struck out two. Shana Riggleman was the winner in relief, throwing three and two-thirds innings and allowing two hits. Riggleman is now 3-3 for the season.
Rose led the offense with two hits on the day. She also walked, scored two runs and had an RBI. She is now second on the team in hitting with a .348 batting average. She leads the squad with a school-record eight doubles.
The Orangewomen will get back into BIG EAST play on Saturday, April 20 with a home doubleheader versus Boston College. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. SU will also host Providence on Sunday in a 12 p.m. twin bill.
