SU Splits with Rutgers; Earns No. 4 Seed

Sunday, May 3

Syracuse, N.Y.

Syracuse University

Rutgers

Senior Jamie Kelling hit her first career home run in SU's final home game of the season.

5/3/2009 5:00:44 PM | Softball

Boxscore Game One | Boxscore Game Two

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse softball team (30-20, 12-10) earned its first 30-win season since 2006 and the first under head coach Leigh Ross in a split with Rutgers Sunday afternoon. Syracuse won the first game 3-2, but suffered a 4-2 setback in the game two.

The Orange has secured the No. 4 for the 2009 BIG EAST Tournament which begins May 7 at the University of Louisville.

Seniors Jamie Kelling and Amy Kelley led the Orange on Senior Day. Kelling finished the day 2-for-6 scoring three runs and hit her first career home run, while Kelley was 3-for-5 with an RBI.

Sophomore Hallie Gibbs saved the day for SU in game one. She was 2-for-4 with a two-RBI double in the seventh to secure the 3-2 victory. In game two, freshman Stephanie Watts was 1-for-2 at the plate scoring a run and was walked twice.

Game One

Syracuse trailed 2-0 for most of the game as the Scarlet Knights tallied one run each in the second and the fourth. However, the Orange cut the Rutgers lead in half with a lead-off home run from Kelling in the bottom of the sixth. It was Kelling's first career long ball.

The Orange managed to hold the Scarlet Knights scoreless in the top of the seventh. Kelling assisted senior Nicole Miller with two putouts and Gibbs snapped up a ground out to put Syracuse at bat.

Sophomore Rachel Helman led off the bottom half of the inning for SU with a single to centerfield. She advanced to second on a sac bunt from senior Lindsay Wasek. After Kelling was intentionally walked, Gibbs powered a walk-off double to left centerfield giving the Orange the 3-2 victory. Gibbs now has a team-leading nine doubles heading into the BIG EAST Tournament.

Game Two

The Orange led off game two with back-to-back singles by Watts and Kelling. After the pair pulled a double steal, Gibbs was walked to load the bases. A sac fly from Kelley sent Watts home to give the Orange a 1-0 lead. After a base-hit from Miller loaded the bases again, both freshman Gaby Torzilli and Wasek popped up to second base to end the inning.

Rutgers responded three innings later. Sarah Kalka led off with a ground out before Mandy Craig singled to left field. Craig then advanced to second when teammate Brittany Lindley reached on an error by Miller at first base. After junior pitcher Brittany Gardner walked Amanda Heller to fill the bases, a sac fly to right field from Kim Hodges plated Lindsey Curran, who pinch ran for Craig, to make it a tie game.

The Scarlet Knights took the lead in the top of the fifth when a left field single from Kate Valiante scored Amanda Shaw. However, Syracuse responded with another run in the bottom of the inning to make it a 2-2 game. Kelling, who had reached on an error by second base, scored when Kelley slapped a ball to third baseman Brittney Lindley and advanced to second when Lindley overthrew Craig at first.

Rutgers added two more runs in the sixth to take a 4-2 lead the Orange was unable to overcome. Despite Scarlet Knight pitcher Chrissy Yard walking three in the bottom of the seventh to load the bases with two outs, Miller closed out the game with a fly ball to left field.

What's Next

As the No. 4 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament, the Orange will face USF at 10 a.m. on May 7 in Louisville's Ulmer Stadium. This will be the first meeting between the two squads this season as their April 4 doubleheader was cancelled due to inclement weather in Syracuse, N.Y. It will be the sixth all-time meeting between the two squads.