Morales Powers SU to Two Wins

Saturday, February 25

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

1:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

at Middle Tennessee State (Breast Cancer Strikeout Classic)

Cassie Morales drove in eight runs on Saturday.

2/25/2006 9:32:01 PM | Softball

SU 9, MTSU 1
SU 12, LUC 3

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Senior Cassie Morales (Whitier, Calif.) went 5-for-8 with two home runs and eight runs batted in to lead SU (2-5) to its first two wins of the 2006 campaign. The Orange posted a 9-1 five-inning decision versus Middle Tennessee State and a 12-3, five-inning triumph against Loyola-Chicago on the first day of the Breast Cancer Strikeout Classic at the Murfreesboro Star Plex on Saturday, Feb. 25.

Morales was 2-for-3 with a home run and three runs batted in against Middle Tennessee State (2-8) and tied the SU single-game record with five RBI versus Loyola-Chicago (0-2). It was the second time in her career that she drove in five runs in a game, also achieving the feat on April 24, 2005 versus Rutgers. Morales went 3-for-3 against the Rambers with four of her five RBI coming with one swing of the bat as she crushed the third grand slam in SU history. Morales also hit two doubles on the day to become SU’s all-time leader in two-baggers with 42. She entered the 2006 campaign tied with Tanya Rose for the career lead at 40.

Senior Alexis Switenko (Blue Anchor, N.J.) made Orange history herself on Saturday. She finished the day with four RBI to overtake Rose (91 RBI) and become SU’s all-time leader in runs batted in with 92.

Against Middle Tennessee State, the Orange owned a 2-1 lead going into the top of fifth, but scored seven runs on five hits in the inning to blow the game open. Sophomore Rachel Tilford (Birch Hills, Saskatchewan) opened the frame with a single. Classmate Chanel Roehner (Simi Valley, Calif.) reached on an error and rookie Dani Stuart (Centralia, Wash.) walked to load the bases. Freshman Heather Kim (Boulder, Colo.) singled in Tilford, and Switenko followed with a two-run double. That was enough to chase Middle Tennessee State starter Trish White, who was replaced by Ashley Katinas. The Orange onslaught continued though, as Morales cleared the bases with a three-run homer. Freshman Amy Kelley (Bend, Ore.) followed the blast with a single and classmate Jorden Rosen (Sugar Land, Texas) reached on a fielder’s choice. Katinas walked Tilford to load the bases again and Roehner hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Kelley, but Katinas got Stuart to ground out to end the inning.

SU starting pitcher Erin Downey (San Rafael, Calif.) retired the Blue Raiders in order in the bottom of the fifth to end the game. Kim went 2-for-3 with two RBI in the contest, while Switenko finished 1-for-3 with two runs batted in. Tilford had two hits for the Orange and Nicole Miller (Simi Valley, Calif.) recorded the first base knock of her career with a single in the second inning.

Downey went the distance for SU, allowing two hits and striking out a season-high eight batters to earn her first win of the season and the 18^th of her career. White took the loss for Middle Tennessee State.

The Blue Raiders’ only run came in the second-inning on a leadoff homer by Kristine Reed, her fourth of the season.

Syracuse continued its hot hitting in its second game of day, versus Loyola-Chicago (0-2). The Orange scored all 12 of its runs in the first inning, sending 16 batters to the plate and pounding out 10 of its 13 hits in the frame. Morales did most of the damage, driving in a run with a double in her first at-bat of the inning and crushing her first career grand slam in her second at-bat of the frame. Switenko registered two hits, drove in two runs and scored twice in the inning, while Miller, freshman Kim Weinstein (Tarzana, Calif.) and Kelley each notched the first RBI of their careers. Morales and Roehner also scored twice in the inning.

Loyolo-Chicago hurler Krista Crosson did not record an out and allowed eight runs, six of them earned. She was replaced by Katie Schupbach, who pitched the rest of the game for the Ramblers.

Switenko started in the circle for the Orange and pitched three innings, allowing three runs and striking out two to earn the second win of her career and the first since April 24, 2003 against Siena. Freshman Keri Casas (Folsom, Calif.) replaced Switenko in the fourth and pitched two innings of scoreless relief.

The Ramblers scored all of their runs in the third, hammering out five singles in the inning. Tara Miller was the only Rambler to have multiple hits in the game, finishing 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Tilford, who notched two singles against Middle Tennessee State, also singled versus Loyola-Chicago to extend her hitting streak to five games. Rosen, who pinch hit for Kim, recorded the first hit of her career with a first-inning single.

Syracuse wraps up competition at the tournament with two games on Sunday, Feb. 26. The Orange will meet Lipscomb at 9:00 a.m. and Tennessee-Martin at 11:00 a.m.