Kelling Sets School Record; Orange Splits Games At College of Charleston Classic

Saturday, March 15

Charleston, S.C.

1:30 p.m.

Syracuse University

Charleston (College of Charleston Classic)

Jamie Kelling registered five hits against St. John's to set the Syracuse record for hits in a game

Kelling Sets School Record; Orange Splits Games At College of Charleston Classic

3/15/2008 3:25:05 PM | Softball

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – Junior shortstop Jamie Kelling set the Syracuse (6-16) standard for hits in a game when she went 5-for-5 in the Orange's 3-2, nine-inning victory against BIG EAST foe St. John's (7-14) on Saturday at the College of Charleston Classic. Immediately after game one, Charleston (10-21) earned a 2-0 win against Syracuse.

Kelling finished batting 6-for-9 with one RBI and one run scored and improved her batting average from .246 to .300 in just two outings.

"Jamie has transitioned well into the leadoff spot," said head coach Leigh Ross. "She has been a spark for our offense and she really came through against St. John's. Her speed and athletic ability really is a lethal weapon."

Freshman third baseman Hallie Gibbs registered three hits on the day, and senior outfielder Rachel Tilford and sophomore leftfielder Ev Anderson each tallied two.

"The win against St. John's was a good measuring stick for us to see how we compare to a BIG EAST team," Ross said. "Overall we hit the ball well today, but the hits weren't always timely and we left runners stranded. Our pitchers did a great job even though right now it is a two-man staff."

Kelling hit a walk-off single against the Red Storm with one out in the ninth to score freshman designated player Tawni Irvine from third. Sophomore pitcher Brittany Gardener and the Syracuse defense orchestrated two scoreless innings to give Kelley the chance to win the game.

Gardner, who was credited with the victory, entered in the game in the sixth in relief of senior Chanel Roehner, who threw five complete innings, striking out four.

Roehner's first home run of the season put SU up 2-0 when she launched a two-out shot deep over the leftfield fence with Kelling on second. Kelling led off with a bunt single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman right fielder Rachel Helman.

The Red Storm responded with a run in the top of the second when leftfielder Alyson Funn singled up the middle to score catcher Brandy Reyes. The tandem of junior first baseman Nicole Miller and junior catcher Amy Kelley denied St. John's second run with a play at the plate.

The Orange defense stood strong allowing only two hits from the third to the fifth inning but the Storm used two hits and one run in the top of the six to pull even.

SU halted the Storm's momentum when Harris singled up the middle sending Reyes from second to home, but a throw from Roehner to Kelley got Reyes before she scored.

After both teams failed to score in the seventh, the game entered the international tie-breaking rules and placed a runner on second base for both clubs.

During SU's second game, Gardner was back in the circle and had a one-hitter going until the bottom of the fourth inning. Cougars freshman Katie Nutaitis led off the inning with a double to left-center field, but her team left two runners stranded when senior Rachel Tilford made a running catch in shallow right-center to exit the inning.

Syracuse threatened with two outs in the top of the six. Anderson reached on an infield single and then stole second to place herself in scoring position. Charleston sophomore pitcher Terri Mesko induced a groundout to second for the third out.

A leadoff single off the top of the fence by Cougars junior second baseman Shannon Howard started a rally that placed runs on second and third with two outs. Catcher Brittany Small tripled to left center to score two runs.

Helman and freshman third baseman Gibbs started the top of the seventh with singles through the left side. A fielder's choice placed Roehner on first and freshman pinch runner Kate Mankowsi on second. Tilford followed with a single to shallow left to load the bases with one out.

Kelley lined to Howard, who made a leaping catch and completed the double play with a throw to first.

Gardner's win and loss moves her record to 3-4. During the second game she struck out three and allowed two earned runs. Mesko improves to 4-8 despite allowing eight hits.

The Orange concludes the College of Charleston Classic and its preseason tournament schedule on Sunday, Mar. 16 when it plays Binghamton at 10 a.m. Live stats for the game can be viewed by clicking here.