Orange Battles Griffins In Close 4-3 Setback

Thursday, April 24

Buffalo, N.Y.

4:30 p.m.

Syracuse University

Canisius

Hallie Gibbs moved into the third spot on SU's freshman home run record list.

4/24/2008 6:00:33 PM | Softball

Box Score

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Freshman third baseman Hallie Gibbs homered for the fifth time this season and junior shortstop Jamie Kelling totaled three hits against Canisius on Thursday. The Griffins rallied in the bottom of the fifth and came away with a 4-3 victory. Syracuse goes to 18-26, while Canisius improves to 29-11.

Gibbs finished the day going 1-for-3, while Kelling went 3-for-4, producing her team-high tying 14th multi-hit game of the year. Junior right fielder Jorden Rosen notched her first multi-hit game of the year by going 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Junior catcher Amy Kelley extended her hitting streak to eight games when she drove in her team-high 28^th run by doubling with one out in the top of the first to score Kelling, who led off with a double of her own. She crossed home plate for the team-leading 22^nd time. The double for Kelley was her 10^th of the season, while Kelling's two-bagger was her fourth.

The Griffins, which has made the NCAA Tournament five out of the last seven seasons, answered in the bottom half of the inning. Senior Katie Miranto led off with a double over the head of freshman leftfielder Tawni Irvine. Miranto was driven in two at-bats later when sophomore Michell Fridey singled down the leftfield line.

In the top of the second, Irvine reached base on an error by Canisius junior third baseman Cameron Norton. The freshman scored when Rosen singled to centerfield for her fifth RBI of the year. However, for the second straight inning, Canisius had a response for the Syracuse offense. A sacrifice bunt by senior Brittany Bonetto scored junior Angela Turrey from third to tie the score at 2-2.

Gibbs homered by sending a two-out, solo shot over the breakaway fence in centerfield. She is now tied for the third spot with Chanel Roehner (2005) SU's freshman record list for home runs.

Roehner, who pitched 6.0 innings,and the SU defense cruised through the third and fourth inning, allowing only one hit, but a two run home run in the fifth by junior Cameron Norton erased the Orange's 3-2 lead and gave the Griffins the lead.

Facing its last three outs, the Orange got a leadoff single by Rosen. Sophomore Ev Anderson was called upon to pinch run and advanced to second on a wild pitch and then to third on a bunt single by Kelling. SU loaded the bases with two outs when Gibbs walked, but Canisius junior pitcher Mallory Aldred was able to end the game by inducing a groundout to first base.

Roehner threw her 11^th complete game, striking out four and walking none. She is 3-7 this season.

Juliette Bowers pitched three innings for the Griffins before being replaced by senior Lindsay Morris, who pitched 2.0 innings and improved to 10-6. Junior Mallory Aldred came in in the sixth to earn her 12^th save of the season.

The outing was originally scheduled to be a 3 p.m. doubleheader but, due to a blown tire on the Syracuse bus, the start time was pushed back to 4:30 and the teams only played one game.

The Orange puts the finishing touches on its regular-season road schedule on Saturday, April 26 at Pittsburgh for a noon doubleheader.