Orange Compete Against Two Top-5 Teams on First Day of Kajikawa Classic

Friday, February 9

Tempe, Ariz.

5:30 p.m.

Syracuse University

vs. 3/3 UCLA (Kajikawa Classic)

In the first game, the Orange made a late rally but came up short, 14-4, in six innings against No. 3/3 UCLA.

Orange Compete Against Two Top-5 Teams on First Day of Kajikawa Classic

2/9/2007 11:45:54 PM | Softball

UCLA Box Score
ASU Box Score

TEMPE, Ariz. – The Syracuse University softball squad (0-2) lost its opening two games on Fri., Feb. 10 at the Kajikawa Classic held at the Tempe Sports Complex. SU was beaten, 14-4, in six innings in its first game of the day by No. 3/3 UCLA. In the second game, Megan Elliott no-hit the Orange as No. 5/5 Arizona State rolled to a 11-0 five-inning victory.

In the first game, the Orange made a late rally but came up short, 14-4, in six innings.

2006 BIG EAST Co-Rookie of the Year Tonye McCorkle led the way going 2-for-3 with one run.

Syracuse scored three of its runs in the bottom of the fifth. After an Erin Gray walk, Ev Anderson singled to the shortstop to put runners on first and second with one out. McCorkle’s second hit of the day, a single to the pitcher, loaded the bases. Two wild pitches by Whitney Baker scored Gray and Anderson. Syracuse’s third run came when Keri Casas recorded her first career RBI off a sacrifice fly to right field that scored McCorkle.

The UCLA offense pounded out 12 hits and starting pitcher Megan Langenfield pitched four scoreless innings, allowing only three hits, striking out two and walking none.

Freshman pitcher Brittany Gardner walked two Bruins in the top of the first, but recovered and got out of the inning with allowing no runs.

McCorkle led off the Orange offense with a single to left field in the bottom of the first. Roehner also singled and advanced McCorkle to second. A Langenfield wild pitch pushed McCorkle to third and Roehner to second with no outs, but SU was unable to get either runner home.

The Bruins scored five runs on two hits in the second inning and five runs on four hits in the third inning to break the game open, 10-0.

Tilford doubled down the right-field line with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, but the Orange was unable to capitalize on the opportunity.

UCLA scored four runs in the top of the sixth to put the margin at 14-3. Lindsay Wasek doubled down the right-field line to open in the bottom half of the sixth. Two batters later Heather Kim singled through the left side to score Wasek. Kim advanced to second on the wild pitch, but the Orange failed to bring her home, ending the contest, 14-4.

Gardner earned her first career start, pitching 1.2 innings, allowing five hits on eight walks and two hits. Roehner pitched three innings in relief, striking out three, but also allowing five runs in five hits and four walks. Casas pitched 1.1 innings, allowing four runs off five hits and three walks.

Baker pitched two innings of relief for the Bruins, allowing four SU runs on four hits and one walk. Langenfield also went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI to lead the UCLA offense.

In the second game, the ASU offense pounded out 10 hits and Elliott struck out eight, walking none. It was the fifth no-hitter twirled against the Orange and first since Cat Osterman silenced the SU bats on Feb. 10, 2006.

Gardner, making her second start on the mound in 2007, kept the Sun Devils at bay during the game’s second inning putting ASU down one-two-three. The freshman gave up 11 runs on 10 hits and six walks in the games other three innings. She also recorded four strikeouts.

Syracuse’s two base runners, Kim and McCorkle, both got on base via walks. Kim also stole second.

Rhiannon Baca went 3-for-3 with six RBI and one home run led the Sun Devil attack.

The Orange will continue play at the tournament on Sat, Feb. 10. SU will take on RV/-Oregon at 1 p.m. EST and RV/- Long Beach State at 3 p.m. EST.