Syracuse University
vs. #20 Arizona State (Fiesta Bowl Tournament)
Orangewomen Lose to 23rd-Ranked Fresno State
2/14/2004 6:34:24 PM | Softball
TEMPE, Ariz. – The Orangewomen softball team opened the second day of competition at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament with a 6-3 loss to 23rd-ranked Fresno State at Arizona State’s Farrington Stadium. SU is now 0-3 on the season, while the Bulldogs improved to 3-1.
All nine runs in the game scored on home runs. Fresno State’s Veronica Green drove in five runs with a grand slam and a solo homer, while Jamie Southern added a solo shot. All three of Syracuse’s runs scored on two swings. Sophomore shortstop Alexis Switenko drilled a two-run home run to center in the fourth inning, followed by a solo blast by sophomore designated player Cassie Morales.
Senior Haley Larsen was the losing pitcher for the Orangewomen. She went three and one-third innings, allowing five runs on five hits. She struck out one and walked two. Lori Hoffman was the winning pitcher for Fresno State in relief. Hoffman (1-0) threw four scoreless innings, allowing two hits.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a grand slam by Green.
Syracuse cut the lead to 4-2 in the top of the fourth on a two-run blast by Switenko. It was her 10th career home run, placing her in a second-place tie on the Orangewomen’s career ledger. Morales followed with a solo shot to center on the next pitch to make it 4-3. It marked the sixth time in school history the Orangewomen hit back-to-back home runs.
Green struck again in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run to push the score to 5-3 in favor of the Bulldogs. Fresno State took a 6-3 lead on its third home run of the day, a solo shot by Southern in the bottom of the fifth.
SU freshmen Erin Gray and Dani Delgado each recorded their first career hits in the game.
