SU Eliminated from Buzz Classic

Sunday, March 5

Atlanta, Ga.

9:00 a.m.

Syracuse University

vs. North Carolina State (Buzz Classic)

Erin Downey averaged 8.75 strikeouts per game in four outings at the Buzz Classic.

3/5/2006 11:01:26 AM | Softball

NCST 8, SU 0

MARIETTA, Ga. – The sixth-seeded SU softball squad (8-7) was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 14^th Annual Marriott Buzz Classic by North Carolina State (14-6), 8-0, in five innings on Sunday, March 5 at the Al Bishop Softball Complex. The Orange finished the tournament 4-2.

N.C. State scored one run in each of the first three innings to take a 3-0 advantage in the contest. Heather Gelbard led off the bottom of the first with her fifth homer of the tournament to put the Wolfpack in front, 1-0.

The Wolfpack added another run in the second. Megan Dalthorp singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lisa Nentwig. Dalthorp advanced third on a ground out by Jess Williams, and Tess Corona drove her in with a ground ball single through the middle.

In the third inning, Jen Chamberlain hit N.C. State’s second homer of the game, an opposite field shot to right, to push the Wolfpack’s lead to 3-0.

SU had its best chance to score in the fifth inning. With one out, sophomore Rachel Tilford (Birch Hills, Saskatchewan) singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Rookie Tonye McCorkle (Santa Ana Heights, Calif.) drew a walk to put runners on first and second, but Wolfpack starter Abbie Sims stuck out sophomore Chanel Roehner (Simi Valley, Calif.) and senior Cassie Morales (Whittier, Calif.) grounded down to third to force out McCorkle and end the threat.

In the bottom of the inning, Megan Dalthorp launched the Wolfpack’s third long ball of the contest, a three-run shot, that increased its advantage to 8-0 and invoke the run rule.

Sophomore Erin Downey (San Rafael, Calif.) started her third straight game in the circle for the Orange. She had one strikeout in the game to increase her tournament total to 35 (8.75 strikeouts per game). Downey finished the tournament 2-2. The two victories moved her into third on SU’s career wins chart with 21, passing Heather Brown.

McCorkle, freshman Kim Weinstein (Tarzana, Calif.) and Tilford each finished the game 1-for-2 at the plate. McCorkle hit .421 (8-19) for the tournament with three runs scored.

Dalthorp was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI for the Wolfpack Gelbard also went 2-for-3.

The Orange return to the diamond on March 10 when it competes on the first day of the Long Beach State Invitational in Long Beach, Calif.