Syracuse University
vs. Evansville (UCF Tournament)
Orangewomen Win Two at UCF
3/10/2003 5:50:18 PM | Softball
SU vs. Evansville
SU vs. Binghamton
ORLANDO, Fla. - Syracuse pitchers Tara DiMaggio (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) and Taylor Petersen (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) allowed only one run and six hits to lead the SU softball team to a pair of victories at the UCF Spring Fling on Monday, March 10. SU defeated Evansville, 2-1, and Binghamton, 8-0.
The Orangewomen snapped a five-game losing streak to improve to 4-6 on the season. It is the first time this season that Syracuse has won consecutive games.
DiMaggio was the winning pitcher in Syracuse's 2-1 win versus Evansville. The senior gave up just two hits to move her record to 3-2. After a leadoff walk in the first inning, DiMaggio did not allow a base runner until an error in the sixth inning. Her no-hit bid was broken up in the seventh inning on a bunt single. DiMaggio struck out four and walked only one.
Petersen (1-1) threw her second career shutout for her first win of the season versus Binghamton. She scattered four hits in seven innings, striking out four and walking one.
A pair of rookies led the offense. Freshman shortstop Alexis Switenko (Blue Anchor, N.J./Winslow Township) went 4-for-6 with a home run, four runs batted in and two runs scored on the day. Freshman first baseman Jennifer Orpitelli (Garden Grove, Calif./Pacifica) was 4-for-7 with a pair of runs batted in. Junior second baseman Rachel Park (Mt. Juliet, Tenn./Friendship Christian) also had four hits on the day.
The Orangewomen plated both of their runs against the Purple Aces in the first inning. Switenko drove in Park and senior outfielder Christina Holowich (Castro Valley, Calif./Moreau Catholic) with a single. DiMaggio held Evansville scoreless until the seventh inning. Holowich, Park and Switenko all had three hits in the game for the Orangewomen.
Syracuse again struck quickly versus the Bearcats, scoring a run in each of the first three frames. Switenko drove in her third run of the afternoon in the first inning with a sacrifice fly, while Orpitelli did the honors in the second with a single. Switenko put Syracuse ahead 3-0 in the third inning with a solo home run.
The Orangewomen put the game out of reach with a five-spot in the top of the seventh inning. After the first two batters of the inning were retired, the Orangewomen had five hits and three walks. Freshman Cassie Morales (Whittier, Calif./St. Paul) started the rally with a double and moved to second on a single by Switenko. Both runners scored on a single by junior Nikki Lincoln (Baton Rouge, La./Episcopal). Sophomore outfielder Tanya Rose (Milwaukie, Ore./Rex Putnam) plated two more runs with a home run to center field. It was Rose's first home run of the season. Orpitelli drove in the final run of the game with a single to score freshman Lindsay Van Gorden (Waterloo, N.Y./Waterloo).
Orpitelli finished the game with a career-high three hits. Park and Switenko each had two hits for the Orangewomen.
Syracuse will finish competition at the two-day event on Tuesday, March 11 versus Colorado State and Pennsylvania. Syracuse will face Miami (OH) on Wednesday, March 12 at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
