Late Rally Too Little for SU Softball

Thursday, May 7

Louisville, Ky.

10:00 a.m.

Syracuse University

University of South Florida

Freshman Stephanie Watts hit her fifth triple of the season in the opening game of the BIG EAST Tournament.

5/7/2009 12:14:20 PM | Softball

Boxscore

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Despite leading 1-0 for a majority of the opening game of the 2009 BIG EAST Softball Tournament, Syracuse could not hold off a late USF (34-21) rally in extra innings and lost to the Bulls, 5-4. Syracuse (30-21) scored three runs to the Bulls' four in the ninth, ending its tournament run.

Sophomore Rachel Helman and freshman Stephanie Watts led the Orange in the opening game of the tournament. Helman was 2-for-4 with a run, while Watts finished the day 2-for-5 with two RBI. On defense, freshman ace Jenna Caira, who was named 2009 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, pitched all nine innings for SU. She struck out nine batters and walked only three. Senior Nicole Miller held her own at first. She had 14 putouts and one assist.

After a scoreless two innings with only one hit to start the game, the Orange took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Helman began the push with a single up the middle and Watts followed with a bunted single to advance Helman to second. After Kelling was walked to load the bases, Gibbs flew out to right field. In an effort to put Kelling out at first, rightfielder Gina Kafalas over threw first allowing Helman time to score.

During the next three innings, the Bulls went to the bullpen twice keeping the Orange on its toes and allowing only one hit.

USF made it a tie game in the top of the seventh. Giddens led off with a single to senior Jamie Kelling before Janine Richardson used a sac bunt to move Giddens to second. Giddens then scored on a base-hit by Cat Olnick to tie the game, 1-1.

When Syracuse was unable to score any runs in its turn at bat, the teams prepared for extra innings.

After no runs in the eighth, USF came alive with four runs in the ninth. Caira walked Giddens to start before Richardson singled to shortstop Kelling. JoJo Medina stepped up to the plate next for the Bulls and with a powerful single to centerfield, the Bulls took a 2-1 lead.

Olnick used a sac bunt to move Medina to second and put two runners in scoring position with only one out. Caira went on to walk Ashley Bullion to load the bases, but she struck out Kendall Arnold to prevent any runs. However, USF third baseman Alison Savarese shot a single deep to right center field giving the Bulls a 5-1 lead.

The Orange knew what it had to do to take the game back. Freshman Lacey Kohl singled up the middle to start the SU comeback. She then advanced to second on a ground out from classmate Kelly Saco.

Senior Lindsay Wasek singled to put runners at the corners before Watts slammed her fifth triple of the season to centerfield bringing in Kohl and Wasek. Watts then made it a 5-4 game scoring on a throwing error by Giddens at second. The Bulls got out of the inning before Syracuse could score again, ending the game.

Syracuse outhit the Bulls 8-7 and zero errors, while USF had two. The Bulls also utilized four pitchers who had seven strikeouts.