Syracuse University
Miami (OH)
Softball Loses Third Straight One-Run Game
3/12/2003 4:28:28 PM | Softball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The Syracuse softball team lost its third consecutive one-run game, 5-4 to the Miami University RedHawks on Wednesday, March 12. Syracuse is now 4-9 on the season, while RedHawks improved to 5-6.
Miami opened the scoring in the top of the first with a pair of runs on two hits, a walk and an illegal pitch. SU cut the lead to 2-1 in the home half of the second inning on an RBI single by freshman first baseman Jennifer Orpitelli (Garden Grove, Calif./Pacifica).
The RedHawks opened up a 4-1 lead in the third inning on a two-run home run by Angie Gerber, but the Orangewomen fought back to within 4-3 in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore outfielder Tanya Rose (Milwaukie, Ore./Rex Putnam) drove in the first run with a double and then scored on a double by Orpitelli.
Miami scored a crucial insurance run in the top of the seventh. Back-to-back singles put runners on first and third. A fielder's choice drove in the run, but SU was able to escape without further damage. The Orangewomen plated the final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh. Orpitelli led off with a single, but pinch runner Lindsay Van Gorden (Waterloo, N.Y./Waterloo) was put out on a force play. Junior Rachel Park (Mt. Juliet, Tenn./Friendship Christian) drove in the run with a single.
Orpitelli led the offense with three hits and two runs batted in. Rose had two hits, scored twice and drove in one. Freshman Cassie Morales (Whittier, Calif./St. Paul), Park and senior Christina Holowich (Castro Valley, Calif./Moreau Catholic) also had hits for the Orangewomen.
Starting pitcher Tara DiMaggio (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) took the loss. She struck out seven and walked four in four and one-third innings of work. Sophomore Taylor Petersen (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) struck out five and allowed one run in two and two-thirds innings of relief.
Syracuse finishes its spring trip through Florida at the Blue and Gold Classic hosted by Florida International University in Miami March 14-16. SU will face the host Panhers, Florida Atlantic, seventh-ranked California and 20th-ranked Texas A&M in the round-robin portion of the tournament.
