Syracuse University
at Virginia Tech
Orangewomen Split at Virginia Tech
3/29/2003 3:12:45 PM | Softball
BLACKSBURG, Va. – Freshman shortstop Alexis Switenko tied the SU single-game record with two home runs to lead the Orangewomen softball (7-13, 1-1) team to a 4-1 win in the first game of a doubleheader at Virginia Tech on Saturday, March 29. SU lost the second game of the twin bill, 9-1 in six innings.
It is the third time in SU history a player has hit two home runs in one game. Switenko now has four home runs this season, tying the Orangewomen rookie record. Syracuse hit four home runs on the day, tying the school record for homers in a doubleheader set last season at Rutgers. All but one of Syracuse's runs in the twin bill scored via the long ball.
Senior pitcher Tara DiMaggio improved to 5-6, going seven innings and striking out seven in the opener. DiMaggio gave up just two hits and did not allow an earned run and struck out seven with only one walk. Katie Maynard took the loss for the Hokies, dropping to 5-5 on the season.
Senior Julie Dunn led the Orangewomen with three hits in the two games. Switenko, freshman Jennifer Orpitelli and sophomore Tanya Rose all had two hits in the doubleheader.
In game one, SU put two runs on the board in the fourth via the long ball. Orpitelli and Switenko belted back-to-back solo home runs. It was just the second time in school history the Orangewomen hit consecutive home runs, and the first time since April 25, 2000 (Jackie Herrman & Cheryl Julicher).
Switenko hit her second home run in her next at-bat in the top of the sixth to make it 3-0. The Orangewomen made it 4-0 in the inning. Dunn singled with one out and scored on a double by senior Christina Holowich.
Virginia Tech (12-16, 1-1) plated their only run of the game in the bottom of the seventh on a solo home run by Megan Evans.
Both teams played long ball in the nightcap. Virginia Tech scored first on a solo shot by Mindi Wylie in the bottom of the third inning. Syracuse used a home run of its own to tie the game in the top of the fifth. Rose hit her third long ball of the season, a solo blast to center field. The Hokies regained the lead for good in the bottom of the inning on a solo blast to left by Sarah Prosise.
The Hokies ended the game in the sixth inning with seven runs. Evans knocked her second ball of the day over the fence with a solo home run in the sixth to make the score 3-1. Two straight walks and a double by Carmen Farmer made the score 4-1 and a successful squeeze by Kathleen Jones plated the fifth run. Kelly Brown drove in two more with a double down the left field line. Evans drove in her third run of the inning, ending the game with a two-RBI double.
The loss snapped SU's four-game winning streak versus the Hokies.
Taylor Petersen was the losing pitcher for the Orangewomen. Petersen is now 1-5 on the season. She allowed two runs and five hits in four and one-third innings, striking out three. Rachel Pacheco was the winner, improving to 5-9.
Syracuse continues its BIG EAST road trip with a doubleheader at Pittsburgh on Sunday, March 30. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
