Syracuse University
Rutgers
Orangewomen Sweep Rutgers
5/3/2003 4:04:40 PM | Softball
Game One (SU 6, RU 3)
Game Two (SU 7, RU 1)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse softball team stopped a four-game losing streak with a doubleheader sweep of Rutgers, 6-3 and 7-1, at the SU Softball Stadium on Saturday, May 3. The Orangewomen improved to 16-24 overall and 6-12 in the BIG EAST, while the Scarlet Knights are now 25-22 overall and 7-11 in the conference.
Syracuse hit two home runs in the game two to key the victory. Freshman Alexis Switenko hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the Orangewomen a 3-1 lead. It was her ninth homer of the season, tying the SU single-season record. Senior Julie Dunn followed with a solo home run. It was the fifth time this season that SU has hit consecutive home runs this season.
Junior Haley Larsen was the winning pitcher for SU in the game, throwing her third complete game of the season. Larsen (2-6) allowed a first-inning run, but shut down the Scarlet Knights for the rest of the contest. She scattered five hits and struck out four.
Dunn had four hits, including three in the second game, and two RBI in the doubleheader. Sophomore Tanya Rose went 4-for-8 with a home run, three runs scored and three runs batted in. Senior Christina Holowich had four hits and two runs scored. Freshman Jennifer Orpitelli had three hits and three runs batted in.
Switenko finished the day with two hits and two runs batted in. Freshman Christina Miro had three hits and and RBI. Freshman Cassie Morales drove a run in the nightcap with a pinch-hit double.
Switenko's two RBI in the second game was her eighth multi-RBI game of the season, breaking the SU single-season record.
Senior Tara DiMaggio was the winning pitcher in game one. DiMaggio (10-13) allowed three runs and struck out seven, including the tying run with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Andria Koehler and Brielle Cosentino suffered the losses for the Scarlet Knights.
The Orangewomen scored first in the opener with two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Rose drove in both runs with her career-best seventh homer of the season. The Scarlet Knights answered in the top of the fourth on a solo home run by Crystal Vargas.
Syracuse scored three times in the bottom of the fourth. Miro, sophomore Katie Kaempfer and Rose all drove in runs. Rutgers cut the lead to 5-2 in the sixth inning on a single by Brittany Neer. Dunn got the run back for the Orangewomen in the bottom of the inning with an RBI pinch-hit single. The Scarlet Knights plated one more in the seventh on a single by Nikki Childress.
Rutgers took an early lead in first inning of the second game on an RBI groundout by Vargas. Neither team scored again until SU erupted for four in the bottom of the fifth inning. Orpitelli tied the game with a single to right and Switenko gave the Orangewomen the lead for good with her two-run home run. Dunn's long ball gave SU a 4-1 advantage. SU scored three more times in the sixth to set the final margin. Morales doubled to drive home a run and Orpitelli added a two-run single.
The Orangewomen finish the 2003 season on Sunday, May 4 versus Villanova at 11 a.m. The doubleheader will be Senior Day. SU Director of Athletics Jake Crouthamel will throw out the first pitch.
