Orange Splits with Providence on Senior Day

Sunday, April 30

SU Softball Stadium

12:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Providence

Cassie Morales drove in two runs against Providence on Sunday.

4/30/2006 4:58:42 PM | Softball

PC 4, SU 2
SU 4, PC 1

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Senior Alexis Switenko (Blue Anchor, N.J.) earned her 14^th win of the season, pitching a complete game in the nightcap to lead Syracuse (34-20, 15-7) to a 4-1 victory against Providence (29-16-1, 11-9) on Senior Day at the SU Softball Stadium on Sunday, April 30. Switenko allowed one run on six hits and struck out five. The Orange split the doubleheader with the Friars, losing game one, 4-2, to finish the BIG EAST portion of its schedule with a 15-7 record. SU is assured a bid to the eight-team conference championship which begins on May 11 in South Bend, Ind.

Switenko also had three hits in the two games and scored a run in each contest. She has 40 runs scored in 2006, one shy of tying the SU single-season record held by Tanya Rose.

Fellow senior Cassie Morales also had a pair of hits on the day and paced the Orange with two runs batted in.

Freshman Heather Kim (Boulder, Colo.) and sophomore Chanel Roehner (Simi Valley, Calif.) had three hits each in the twin bill. All three of Kim’s base knocks came in game two as she went 3-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI in the triumph.

The Friars scored two runs in the top of the second inning to claim a 2-0 margin in the opening game. Consecutive singles by Elena Romero and Mary Sheehy off SU starter Erin Downey (San Rafael, Calif.) put runners on first and third. A throwing error by Downey on a ground ball off the bat of Gina Rossi allowed Romero to score and Tara Sullivan singled to right to drive in Sheehy.

Providence tacked on two more runs in the sixth on a two-run homer by Rachel Bartholomew to extend its lead to 4-0.

The Orange answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by freshman Kim Weinstein (Tarzana, Calif.). Weinstein plated Switenko who led off the frame with a single.

Trailing, 4-1, in the seventh SU loaded the bases with one out. Friars’ hurler Sara Surosky got Switenko to fly out for the second out of the inning which brought up Morales, the potential winning run. Morales lined an RBI single up the middle, but sophomore Rachel Tilford (Birch Hills, Saskatchewan) was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second on the play by Providence centerfielder Katie Ross to end the game.

Morales was 2-for-4 with one RBI in the contest. Roehner also had two hits and scored a run for the Orange.

Downey allowed six hits in seven innings. She struck out six and did not walk a batter.

Sullivan was 2-for-3 in the opening game for Providence. Bartholomew was 1-for-3 with her one hit being the big two-run homer.

Surosky scattered eight hits to earn her 17^th win of 2006. She walked three and struck out two.

The Orange took the early lead in game two an on RBI single by Switenko in the bottom of the first.

Providence immediately answered, putting a one on the scoreboard in the top of half of the second on an RBI single by Rossi. Rossi drove in Bartholomew who led off the inning with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and was sacrificed over to third.

SU broke the 1-1 tie with two runs in the fifth. Kim opened the inning with a single and Switenko followed with a double to put runners on first and third with nobody out. Morales hit a sacrifice fly to right and junior Erin Gray (Katy, Texas) singled home Switenko to make the score, 3-1.

The Orange added an insurance run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Kim.

Switenko walked two Providence hitters in the seventh, but struck out Michele Bowers, got Sam Pittman to fly out, and fanned Bartholomew to nail down the victory.

Kim’s three singles paced SU in game two. Switenko was 2-for-4 in the game with a run scored and an RBI. Gray was 1-for-3 with a run batted in.

Sheehy and Rossi each had two hits for Providence in the nightcap. Jennifer Maccio took the loss. She allowed four runs, all earned, on10 hits. She walked one and did not strike out a batter.

Syracuse will wrap up its regular season on Wednesday, May 3 with a non-conference doubleheader versus Buffalo at the SU Softball Stadium. First pitch is at 3:00 p.m.