Sunday, April 13
Tampa, Fla.
Noon
Syracuse University
4
at
5
South Florida
Hallie Gibbs went 2-for-3 with three RBI during the first game on Sunday.
Gibbs Tallies Three RBI As Orange Battles Bulls
4/13/2008 3:45:30 PM | Softball
Game #1 Box Score
Game #2 Box Score
TAMPA, Fla. – Freshman third baseman Hallie Gibbs notched three RBI behind a 3-for-6 performance during a doubleheader at first-place South Florida on Sunday. Gibbs and junior shortstop Jamie Kelling (3-for-8) each tallied a team-best three hits as the Orange softball team (14-23, 5-7 BE) took the Bulls (36-13, 11-1 BE) to the limit in a 5-4 and 1-0 setback.
"They are the top team in the BIG EAST and we're not that far off," said associate head coach Kyle Jamieson. "Both of those games could have gone either way. We just have to keep battling."
Gibbs, who has registered a team-leading seven multi-RBI games this season, has posted a team-best 20 RBI and is only four away from moving into a tie for fifth place with Alexis Switenko for most RBI by a Syracuse freshman. Her 2-for-3 outing during game one was her eighth multiple-hit contest of the year.
Kelling and junior catcher Amy Kelley each increased their multiple hit games total to 11 by producing two during the late game. Kelling, who earlier this year had a season-best 11-game hit streak, increased her current streak to seven games.
During outing one, Roehner cruised in the circle through the first three innings, allowing only two runners to reach base and striking out four. In the fourth, however, the Bulls found their stride posting five runs with a RBI double by senior centerfielder Aya Nakajima and a RBI single by sophomore shortstop Tara Toscano.
The Orange responded an inning later when Gibbs tallied her fourth career double and drove in two runs. Roehner, who reached on an error the at-bat before Gibbs' two-bagger, scored on a sacrifice fly by Kelley.
Roehner and the defense rebounded in the fifth and sixth by only allowing two hits. In the top of the seventh, SU threatened when Kelling, hitting out of the one spot, singled to short. Roehner once again reached on an error and Gibbs drove in Kelling with a single up the middle. After a fielder's choice punched Roehner out at third, Gibbs was left stranded on second base as freshman pitcher Capri Catalano tallied a strikeout and fly out to get her team out of the jam and end the game.
USF used three hurlers with senior Courtney Mosch (16-5) posting 4.1 innings, striking out five. Sophomore Kristen Gordon supplied 1.0 innings in relief and Catalano registered her fourth save of the season by pitching 1.2 innings.
Roehner finished with six strikeouts, one shy of tying her season high, and is now 6-8 this season.
During game two, sophomore pitcher Brittany Gardner shutdown the Bulls through five innings, allowing four hits during the span and striking out five batters. Bulls' sophomore JoJo Medina scored the game's only run by hitting a lead-off home run over the left field fence in the sixth.
The Orange's best chance to grab the lead came in the third inning when Kelling singled with two outs, stole second and reached third on a passed ball. Mosch walked Roehner to put runners on the corners, but induced a fly out by Gibbs to get out of the innings.
Gardner pitched her team-high 10th complete game of the year and is 8-8, while Catalona earned the win (10-0) after relieving Mosch after 4.2 innings.
The Orange travels to Ithaca, N.Y. on Wednesday, April 16 for a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader against the BIG RED of Cornell.
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