Syracuse University
vs. Nevada (San Diego State Tournament )
Orangewomen Lose Twice at SDSU Tournament
3/5/2004 6:25:08 PM | Softball
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Syracuse softball team lost both its games on the first day of competition at the San Diego State Tournament. The Orangewomen lost to Nevada, 7-6 in eight innings, and 4-1 to #1 UCLA. Syracuse is now 5-8 on the season.
Sophomore shortstop Alexis Switenko led the Orangewomen offense with four hits, including a home run against the Bruins. It was Switenko’s fourth homer of the season and 13th career long ball, tying the Orangewomen’s all-time record. Junior outfielder Tiffany Robinson also had four hits on the day, including three against Nevada. Sophomore outfielder Cassie Morales led the team with three runs batted, all against the Wolfpack. Freshman Jen Elderbroom recorded her team-best second pinch hit of the season, driving in two runs against Nevada with a single.
Freshman pitcher Courtney Mosch was the losing pitcher for Syracuse in both games. Against Nevada, she came on in relief, allowing two unearned runs and three hits in two innings. She got the start against the Bruins, allowing three earned runs on seven hits. She struck out three and walked three. Mosch is now 3-5 for the campaign.
In the opener, the Orangewomen battled back from a 3-0 deficit after three innings. SU plated two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Robinson led off the frame with a double and scored when senior Rachel Park singled and went to third on an error. Morales drove in her first run of the day with a sacrifice fly.
Syracuse took a 6-3 lead in the top of the sixth. Robinson again ignited the rally with a leadoff single. She stole second base and moved to third on a single by Switenko. Morales then drove in both runners with a double. Freshman Erin Gray reached on an error and Elderbroom knocked in both runners with a single to right-center field.
The Wolfpack scored a run in each of the final four innings to take the victory. Nevada’s final two runs of the contest were unearned. The tying run scored on a one-out error in the sixth, while the winning run came home on an infield single in the eighth. The game was decided using the international tiebreaker.
The top-ranked Bruins scored all four of their runs in the first three innings. They plated three in the top of the first and one in the top of the third. Syracuse scored its only run of the game in the bottom of the seventh on Switenko’s solo home run, her second hit of the game. Robinson and senior Nikki Lincoln accounted for the Orangewomen’s other two hits in the game.
Syracuse continues play at the San Diego State Tournament on Saturday, March 6 with Cal Poly and the host Aztecs.
