Orange Presence During Day One Of the NFCA Leadoff Tournament

Friday, February 29

Columbus, Ga.

6:30 p.m.

Syracuse University

UCSB (NFCA Leadoff)

Rachel Helman registered her first career hit and her first career multi-hit game during the first contest at the NFCA Leadoff.

Orange Presence During Day One Of the NFCA Leadoff Tournament

2/29/2008 7:33:59 PM | Softball

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ga. – Freshman outfielder Rachel Helman, junior shortstop Jamie Kelling and senior outfielder Rachel Tilford each produced multiply hit games despite the Orange losing to North Carolina State, 2-0, and University of California Santa Barbara, 8-1, at the NFCA Leadoff on Friday.

Helman, who registered her first career hit, and Kelling each went 2-for-3 against the Wolfpack, while Tilford duplicated the mark against Santa Barbara. The multi-hit games were the second of the season for Kelling and Tilford.

The Orange defense shined during game one. Junior second baseman Lindsay Wasek made a difficult catch while backpedaling into shallow right to get the first out of the second inning. Junior catcher Amy Kelley nabbed a foul ball right before it hit the backstop later in the inning.

Freshman third baseman Hallie Gibbs turned two in the top of the fourth by grabbing a line drive and then firing the runner out at first. She also made a diving stop in the seventh and her throw beat the runner to first.

Also in the fourth, sophomore leftfielder Ev Anderson appeared to rob Allyssa Allbritten of a homerun, but the breakaway fence gave way sending Anderson and the ball to the ground. The solo shot put the Wolfpack up 1-0 and another homerun later in the inning moved the score to 2-0.

Senior Chanel Roehner tallied her first complete game of the year going all seven, striking out three and allowing only three hits. Her ERA goes to a team-best 2.40, but her record moves to 0-4.

For N.C. State, Mendy McKenzie went the distanced to improve to 5-2 by striking out five and allowing five hits.

During game two, UCSB jumped out on SU with one run in the first and second and two runs in the third.

Syracuse started to rally in the top of the fourth when walks to Roehner and Gibbs put two on for senior outfielder Rachel Tilford, who singled up the middle to load the bases. Kelley drew a walk and Roehner crossed home to close the gab to 4-1.

The UCSB bats got hot in the bottom of the sixth and increased the lead to 8-1.

Freshman Angie Sagnelli was given the loss and is 0-4 this season. She went 3.0 innings, striking out one and allowing three earned runs. Sophomore Brittany Gardner pitched 3.0 innings in relief, whiffing two and allowing two earned runs.

UCSB pitcher Lindsey Correa went the distance, allowing one earned run, and is 5-3 this season.

The NFCA Leadoff continues on Saturday, Mar. 1 when SU faces No.18/18 Mississippi State at 1:30 p.m. and Nebraska at 6:30 p.m.