Syracuse University
Villanova
Holowich the Hero in Her Final At-Bat
5/4/2003 4:35:00 PM | Softball
Game 1 (VU 3, SU 1)
Game 2 (SU 7, VU 6)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Senior Christina Holowich's single in the bottom of the seventh drove in the game-winning run in SU's 7-6 victory in game two of a doubleheader versus Villanova on Sunday, May 4. Villanova won the first game, 3-1.
SU ends the season with a 17-25 overall record and a 7-13 mark in the BIG EAST. Villanova stands at 32-13-1 overall and 13-7 in the BIG EAST.
Holowich, the Orangewomen's all-time leader in hits, drove in the run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning in her final collegiate at-bat. It was her second hit of the doubleheader.
The victory stopped a six-game losing streak to the Wildcats. It was the longest losing streak to one team in SU's four seasons.
Freshman Cassie Morales led the Orangewomen with three hits on the afternoon, including her team-leading third pinch-hit of the season. Freshman Jennifer Orpitelli went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in game two. Freshman Alexis Switenko also had two hits and two runs scored in the game. Freshman Christina Miro hit her first career home run, a two-run shot in the bottom of the second inning.
Senior Tara DiMaggio was the winning pitcher in relief for SU in her final game. DiMaggio (11-14) threw a perfect seventh inning to earn the victory. She took the loss in the first game with a complete-game effort. She allowed three runs and struck out four in the loss. Villanova's Theresa Hornick was the winner in game one and the loser in relief in game two.
Orpitelli finished the season with a school-record .579 slugging percentage. Junior Rachel Park had two hits on the day to finish in a second-place tie on the SU single-season hit list with 52. Her final average of .384 is also the second-best in the Orangewomen's four seasons.
Villanova struck first in the opening game with two runs in the top of the second inning. The Wildcats had bases loaded with no outs, but DiMaggio induced a double play to put runners on first and second with two outs. Robin Flier delivered a two-out double to center field to score both runs.
SU plated an unearned run in the bottom of the third on a throwing error by the Wildcats. Villanova set the final margin on a solo home run by Sara Carlson.
The Orangewomen scored first in the second game, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on Miro's first career home run. The Wildcats plated three in the top of the third. Lisa Krueger, Carlson and Kari Koller all drove in runs.
Syracuse used the long ball again to take a 4-3 lead in the bottom half of the inning. Orpitelli belted her seventh run of the season, scoring Park who started the two-out rally with a double. SU stretched its lead to 5-3 in the fourth inning, taking advantage of three Villanova errors to plate an unearned run.
The Wildcats fought back again with another three runs in the top of the sixth inning. Ricci Lugo drove in the first run and the tying and go-ahead runs scored on a two-out SU error.
Syracuse tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Sophomore Katie Kaempfer hit a ground ball to second with the bases loaded, but a hustling Switenko beat the throw to the plate.
Orpitelli started the game-winning rally with a one-out single in the seventh inning. Switenko hit a grounder to short, but the throw to second was wide, putting two on with one out. Morales then singled through the left side. Orpitelli was stopped at third, but Switenko was thrown out after venturing too far off second base. With runners on the corners and two outs Holowich delivered the heroics and secured the win for the Orangewomen.
SU finished the season, winning three of its final four games.
