Syracuse University
Boston College
Julicher Belts Walk-Off Home Run to Lead SU to Sweep
4/20/2002 7:12:24 PM | Softball
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - A solo home run by redshirt sophomore Cheryl Julicher (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville North) in the bottom of the 14th inning propelled the Syracuse softball team to a 6-5 victory and a doubleheader sweep against Boston College on Saturday, April 20 at the SU Softball Stadium. SU won the first game, 5-1.
The Orangewomen improved to 19-11 overall and 7-1 in the BIG EAST, while the Eagles are now 18-22 overall and 7-5 in conference play.
The 14-inning thriller was the longest game ever played by the Orangewomen. Total time for the contest was three hours and 26 minutes. It is the first time in the program's three-year history that SU has hit a walk-off home run. The long ball was Julicher's school-record eighth of the season.
Syracuse has now matched its win total from the 2001 season (19-28). The squad's seven BIG EAST wins are one more than last year's total (6-14). The sweep also kept Syracuse unbeaten at home this season (6-0).
Senior Heather Brown (Farmington, N.M./Farmington) was the winning pitcher for the Orangewomen, throwing eight innings of relief. Brown allowed only three hits and struck out six without giving up a walk. She also was the winning pitcher in the first game for the Orangewomen, tossing a complete game. For the afternoon, Brown threw 15 innings, allowed just one run, struck out 14 and didn't walk anyone. She is now 7-7 on the season and 4-1 in BIG EAST play.
Freshman Tanya Rose (Milwaukie, Ore./Rex Putnam) led the Syracuse offense in the twin bill, going 5-for-9 with a double, a triple and three runs batted in. Sophomore Nikki Lincoln (Baton Rouge, La./Episcopal) paced the team with four runs batted in, all with two outs. Julicher's home run was her only hit of the day, but she reached base five times on walks. Junior Julie Dunn (Springfield, Ill./Springfield) and redshirt sophomore Rachel Park (Mt. Juliet, Tenn./Friendship Christian) each had three hits on the day.
The Orangewomen overcame a 4-0 deficit in the nightcap. Boston College took a 3-0 lead in the third inning. A double by Jacqui Goodchild was the big hit in the inning, plating two runs. Cara Blumfield also picked up an RBI when she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The Eagles added their fourth run in the fifth when Goodchild drove in a run with a bunt single.
Syracuse cut the lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth. Rose plated a run with a double Lincoln scored two with a single. BC added a fifth run in the top of the seventh when Sara Kellner scored from third on a passed ball.
The Orangewomen forced extra innings with a two-spot in the seventh. Rose drove in her second run of the game with a single. Lincoln tied the game with another clutch hit, an infield single.
Neither team could push across a run despite numerous chances. Boston College left four runners in scoring position in the extra frames, while the Orangewomen left three. Twice SU led off innings with triples but failed to score. The game featured several great defensive plays, including a leaping catch in left field by Rose and a diving catch by SU junior Christina Holowich (Castro Valley, Calif./Moreau Catholic) that saved at least one BC run in the 13th inning.
Teake Malandris was the losing pitcher in both games. In the nightcap, she allowed foru hits in five and one-third innings. She struck out one and didn't walk a batter. In the first game, Malandris allowed five runs, three earned, on 10 hits. She struck out three and walked two in six innings.
Syracuse took control of the first game from the start, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Park doubled in a run and Rose drove in a run with an infield hit. Lincoln plated the third run of the inning with a double down the left-field line.
The Eagles would score their lone run in the top of the second. Erin Mackey singled to center, scoring Jennifer Asbury. The Orangewomen added two unearned insurance runs in the sixth. Back-to-back errors by Malandris put runners on first and second with no one. Holowich drove in one with a double and freshman Katie Kaempfer (Las Vegas, Nev./Bonanza) picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly.
Syracuse will try to extend its seven-game home winning streak on Sunday when they host Providence in a 12 p.m. doubleheader.
