Orange Adds To The Win Column

Sunday, March 30

Villanova, Pa.

Noon

Syracuse University

Villanova

Chanel Roehner went all seven during game one and earned her fifth win of the season.

3/30/2008 3:45:16 PM | Softball

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

VILLANOVA, Pa. – Senior pitcher Chanel Roehner pitched her sixth complete game of the season, striking out two, to help the Orange softball team earn a 4-1 victory during game one of the doubleheader at Villanova on Saturday. The Wildcats responded with a 2-0 win during the late game. Syracuse, which has won 10 of its last 14 games, goes to 10-17 and 3-1 in conference play, while Villanova is now 8-12 and 1-3 in the BIG EAST.

"We'd like to come away this weekend by 4-0, but we have to be happy to be 3-1 in the BIG EAST," said associate head coach Kyle Jamieson. "Once again we got solid pitching from Chanel and Brittany. We put ourselves in great position to win the first game, but didn't put runs on the board in the second."

Junior shortstop Jamie Kelling led the way with three hits on the day (3-for-8), while freshman outfielder Rachel Helman (2-for-3) and senior centerfielder Rachel Tilford (2-for-8) each produced two hits.

Junior catcher Amy Kelley hit her sixth home run of the season during game one. She combined for three long balls during the weekend.

"Amy got things going for us with her home run," said head coach Leigh Ross. "We were still feeling out their pitcher and once she hit that shot, our bats came alive."

During game one, Roehner orchestrated here fifth win of the season by allowing five hits and zero earned runs in her sixth complete game of the season. The senior tri-captain induced eight ground outs and 11 fly outs. She carried a no-hitter deep into the third inning.

Kelling was on her mark at short providing five assists and two putouts and Kelley made a highlight-reel catch in the bottom of the sixth when Villanova sophomore Jess Boyle fouled back and Kelley made the catch as she slammed into the backstop for the second out of the inning.

Syracuse got on the board early when freshman designated hitter Tawni Irvine sent a hard-hit ground ball up the middle with junior second baseman Lindsay Wasek on first. Wildcat senior centerfielder Carolyn Brown mishandled the groundball, sending Wasek home and Irvine to second.

A solo, two-out home run by Kelley in the third put SU up, 2-0, and two more runs in the sixth gave the Orange a four-run cushion heading into the bottom of the inning.

In the sixth, junior first baseman Nicole Miller ripped her second double of the season to centerfield. Kelley and Tilford, who both reached on walks, came around to score.

Villanova senior Nicole Ward was given the loss after allowing four runs (three unearned) in 5.1 innings of work. Junior Natalie Hord provided 1.2 innings in relief and only allowed one hit.

During game two, Villanova jumped out to the early lead when sophomore leftfielder Danielle Miracle hit sent a two-out triple to the right field fence to score two runs.

The Orange defense kept the Wildcats off the board first two innings. Wasek threw out sophomore second baseman O'Boyle at the plate in the first inning. Roehner played the ball of the fence and hit Wasek in shallow left-center. Wasek turned and fired and Kelley got the tag down in time.

Kelling and Helman both singled to put two runners on for the Orange in the third inning but Nova junior pitcher Laura Determan forced to fly outs to get out of the inning.

Gardner retired eight straight batters after allowing the triple in the third inning, but a one-out double by Villanova junior catcher Meghan Morese ended the streak in the bottom of the sixth. SU got out of the jam after Gibbs produced the next two putouts.

Determan registered her fifth win of the season (5-5) by pitching 7.0 innings and striking out six. Gardner, who struck out three, goes to 5-5.

Providence comes to Syracuse on Friday, April 4 for the home opener at 2 p.m.