Orange Concludes Homestand With Split Versus Pittsburgh

Saturday, April 15

SU Softball Stadium

12:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Pittsburgh

Kim Weinstein was 5-for-6 against Pittsburgh, including a career-best three singles in game one.

Orange Concludes Homestand With Split Versus Pittsburgh

4/15/2006 5:09:30 PM | Softball

SU 8, Pitt 4
Pitt 6, SU 5

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The SU softball team’s (27-16, 11-3) season-best, seven-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday, April 15 at the SU Softball Stadium.The Orange defeated Pittsburgh (27-18, 8-6) by the score of 8-4 in the first game of a doubleheader, but fell, 6-5, to the Panthers in game two. Syracuse finished its homestand 8-2, the best record in program history for the Orange in a homestand of at least 10 games. SU’s victory in the opening contest increased its season victory total to 27, one short of tying the school single-season record.

Sophomore Rachel Tilford (Birch Hills, Saskatchewan) drove in six of SU’s 13 runs versus the Panthers, including a career-best four RBI in game one. Rookie catcher Kim Weinstein (Tarzana, Calif.) hit .833 (5-6) in the two games, including a personal-high three base knocks in the opening contest. Senior Alexis Switenko (Blue Anchor, N.J.) registered two hits in the first game and one in the nightcap to extend her hitting streak to nine games.

The Orange’s 13 runs in the two games boosted its season total 215, surpassing the previous team season standard of 209 set last year. The Orange also eclipsed the school record for runs batted in, also set last season (187), versus the Panthers Saturday. SU has now driven in 195 runs in 2006.

Trailing 3-2 after a solo homer Christa Hunter in the top of the fifth, the Orange rallied for six runs in its half of the inning and went on to win the first game, 8-4. Tilford and senior Cassie Morales (Whittier, Calif.) each drove in two runs in the game-clinching rally. Morales’ two RBI came on a double, the 23^rd of her career in conference play. She is one two-base hit away from tying Ricci Lugo of Villanova for the BIG EAST career lead in doubles. Weinstein and classmate Dani Stuart (Centralia, Wash.) drove in the other two SU runs in the inning with singles.

Sophomore Erin Downey (San Rafael, Calif.) gave up a run in the sixth and worked around a leadoff bunt single in the seventh to earn the victory. It was her 17^thwin of the season, matching the Orange single-season record she holds with Courtney Mosch. Downey pitched all seven innings in the contest. She fanned four and allowed seven hits.

Weinstein was 3-for-3 in game one with two runs scored and an RBI. Morales finished the contest 2-for-3 and scored twice for the Orange.

Hunter was 2-for-2, including the home run in the fifth that gave the Panthers its only lead of the contest. She drove in a pair of runs in the game and scored once. Sheena Hellon was 1-for-2 with an RBI.

Syracuse scored four runs to rally from a 6-1 deficit in the bottom of the seventh, but Pittsburgh hurler Laura Belardinelli retired Switenko with the tying run on second to lift the Panthers to a 6-5 triumph.

Only one of the Panthers’ six runs in the contest was earned. SU surrendered five unearned runs, including four on a grand slam to right center by Hellon in the fifth.

The Panthers grabbed a 1-0 advantage in the third inning on an RBI single by Joey Scarf, and Belardinelli retired SU’s hitters 1-2-3 in each of the first three frames.

Pittsburgh scored five runs on three hits and one SU error to pull in front, 6-0 in the fifth. The big blow was the grand slam off Downey who relieved Switenko earlier in the inning. Pittsburgh also got an RBI single from Francesca DiMaria to record its other run in the frame.

The Orange got on the scoreboard in its half of the inning on an RBI single by Tilford, setting the stage for SU’s furious seventh-inning rally.

Weinstein and junior Erin Gray (Katy, Texas) led off the SU seventh with singles to chase Belardinelli. She was replaced by Hunter, who walked Nicole Miller (Simi Valley, Calif.) to load the bases with nobody out. Tilford smoked a line drive to right that was snared by Jessica Thomas for the first out. Stuart, who pinch ran for Weinstein, tagged and scored on the play to make the score, 6-2. Hunter then walked freshman Tonye McCorkle (Santa Ana Heights, Calif.) to load the bases for sophomore Chanel Roehner (Simi Valley, Calif.) who singled to right, scoring Gray and Miller.

Panthers’ coach Michelle Phelan pulled Hunter and handed the ball back Belardinelli in hopes she could get the final two outs. With runners on first and third, Roehner was erased for the second out on a fielder’s choice by freshman Heather Kim (Boulder, Colo.). McCorkle scored on the play to make it 6-5. After a wild pitch by Belardinelli advanced Kim to second, she got Switenko to pop out to short to end the threat.

Bellardinelli pitched six and two-thirds innings to earn the victory. It was just the second loss of the season for Switenko, who started the game and pitched four and a third innings. She struck out five and allowed three hits.

Weinstein finished with two hits and Gray registered two runs scored in the contest.

Hellon racked up four runs batted in for the Panthers, all coming on the grand slam. Jessica Dignon went 3-for-4 at the plate for Pittsburgh and Scarf also had two hits.

The Orange embarks on a six-game road trip on Wednesday, April 19 when it travels to Ithaca, N.Y. for a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader at Cornell.