Syracuse University
Pittsburgh
Orange Sweeps Pitt in Home Opener
3/27/2009 6:18:43 PM | Softball
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
SYRACUSE – The Syracuse Orange softball team won both games of its home opener against BIG EAST foe Pittsburgh on Friday, March 27 at the SU Softball Stadium. The Orange won game one, 8-3, and game two, 4-0. Senior catcher Amy Kelley went 2-of-5 with five RBI in game one while freshman pitcher Jenna Caira pitched a one-hit shutout in game two. Syracuse improves to 14-10 overall and 3-1 in the BIG EAST while Pittsburgh moves to 14-11, 2-2.
Freshman second baseman Stephanie Watts finished the day going 3-of-5 with a double, two RBI and three runs. Senior shortstop Jamie Kelling went 4-of-7 with a double, two runs and three RBI. Kelley was 3-of-7 with one run, one home run and five RBI.
Freshman leftfielder Gaby Torzilli's double to lead off the third inning of game two led to Syracuse's first run when she scored off an error two batters later. Senior right fielder Jorden Rosen's double an inning later scored freshman pinch runner Nicole Lamison from first. Lamison was pinch-running for Kelley.
The Orange blew the game open with two more runs in the fifth. Five consecutive singles, including a two RBI ground ball by Kelling were the key components.
Caira was brilliant in the circle, striking out nine, while allowing only one hit. Rosen was 2-for-3 with two doubles and a RBI and Kelling was 1-for-2 with two RBI.
In the top of the first of game one, Pittsburgh loaded the bases, plating one runner on a passed ball which escaped the grasp of Kelley. With runners on second and third, junior pitcher Brittany Gardner escaped further damage with a strikeout of Pittsburgh right fielder, Yvette Bravo. Syracuse countered in the bottom of the inning, as Kelley blasted a three-run home run to dead center field, putting the Orange on top, 3-1.
The bottom of the third started strongly for the Orange, with freshman Watts placing a bunt down the third baseline for a hit. With runners on second and third, Kelley again stepped to the plate, driving Watts in for the run with a groundout to the Pittsburgh second baseman.
The Panthers attempted to counter the SU offensive outburst in the top of the fourth inning. After shortstop Niki Cognigni singled to reach base, a throwing error by Kelley advanced her to third. Pittsburgh pushed runners to second and third before Gardner struck out Alicia Broudy to end a scoreless inning for the Panthers.
In the bottom of the frame, the Syracuse offense exploded for four runs on five hits to put SU ahead, 8-1. Back-to-back doubles by Watts and Kelling plated the first three runs for the Orange. Kelley added an RBI single to close the scoring for SU.
Bravo hit a two-run home run in the top of the sixth to bring the score to 8-3, but that is as close as the Panthers were able to get.
Gardner pitched all seven innings, allowing three runs on seven runs with five strikeouts. Kelley went 2-for-4 with five RBI and a run, Watts was 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs and Kelling went 3-of-4 with two runs and a RBI.
The Orange returns to action on Sunday, March 29 at Connecticut at noon.
