Orange Crushes Six Home Runs In Sweep

Wednesday, April 25

Niagara Falls, N.Y.

3 p.m.

Syracuse University

at Niagara

4/25/2007 9:33:34 PM | Softball

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Syracuse University softball team swept the Niagara Purple Eagles, 6-4 and 8-7, this afternoon at Niagara Field. The Orange crushed six home runs in the two games to improve to 19-28. Junior Rachel Tilford hammered two in game two, and senior Erin Gray, junior Chanel Roehner and sophomores Lindsay Wasek and Heather Kim all blasted one apiece.

Syracuse scored four runs in the fourth to post a come-from-behind win in game one.

The Orange scored first when Roehner singled to right field, reached second on a sacrifice and then scored on single up the middle by sophomore Nicole Miller.

Niagara took a 2-1 lead in the third when Tory Healy, Lisa Baker and Jenna Baker all singled to load the bases. Healy, Lisa Baker then scored on a Syracuse error.

The Purple Eagles added two more runs in the fourth when Nicole Sum hit an RBI double to left field and then scored on an Orange error.

Syracuse scored its second run in the fifth when Wasek doubled to left and then scored on a triple by sophomore Jorden Rosen.

The Orange took a 6-4 lead in the sixth when Roehner hit a three-run home run to left centerfield and Wasek had a solo shot to left field.

Freshman RHP Brittany Gardner threw seven strong innings, allowing four runs on nine hits with three strikeouts.

Roehner went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and two runs scored. Wasek was also 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a double. Tilford went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

In game two, Niagara had the game-winning run on base in the bottom of the seventh but a fly out ended the Purple Eagles’ chance for a series split.

Syracuse took a 3-0 lead in the first inning when Kim and Tiford went back-to-back. Kim hit a two-run home run to left field and Tilford had a solo shot to center field. Niagara tied the game in the bottom of the first when Sum hit a home run of her own. Melissa Markle and Heidi Colon then had back-to-back RBI singles to plate Tory Healy and Lisa Baker.

The Purple Eagles scored three more runs in the second when Felicia Coffey led off with a home run to right field, Sum doubled in Kristin Kill and Lisa Baker doubled in Sum.

The Orange tied the game at 6-6 in the third. Gray led off with a home run and Tilford had a two-run home run.

Syracuse made it 8-6 in the fourth when Gray scored on an error and freshman Ev Anderson stole home.

Niagara made it 8-7 in the bottom of the seventh when Lisa Baker walked, moved to second on a ground out, to third on a single by Markle and then scored on Jamie Constantz’s fielder’s choice. The Purple Eagles then were unable to tie the game with runners on first and second.

Sophomore Keri Casas earned the first victory of her career, pitching six innings, allowing two runs on six hits with two strikeouts. She also helped her own cause, going 3-for-5 at the plate.

Tilford went 2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored. Kim was also 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and two runs scored. Anderson went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Syracuse returns to action this weekend with two BIG EAST doubleheaders at Skytop Stadium. The Orange hosts Rutgers at 11 a.m. on Saturday and closeout the regular season with Rutgers at noon on Sunday.