Syracuse University
Towson
Orange Splits on Day Two at USF Tourney
3/20/2010 9:42:11 PM | Softball
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Syracuse (12-12) split its games on day two of the USF “The Game” Tournament, defeating Towson, 3-1, before falling to 25/21 Illinois, 7-3, on Saturday.
Syracuse 3, Towson 1
Freshman Veronica Grant led the Orange offensively, hitting .750 (3-for-4) with a pair of doubles. Junior Hallie Gibbs batted .667 (2-for-3) with an RBI while classmate Rachel Helman hit .500 (2-for-4) and drove in a run. Sophomores Lisaira Daniels and Kelly Saco also collected base hits for the Orange as it outhit Towson, 9-4.
Rookie right-hander Stacy Kuwik earned the pitching victory, allowing one earned run in 5.0 innings. Sophomore Jenna Caira entered in relief, shutting out the Tigers in 2.0 innings.
Syracuse scored a run in the top of the second to take an early 1-0 lead and put another on the board in the top of the fifth to make it 2-0. Towson cut the deficit in half, scoring in the bottom of the second before the Orange put the game away with a run in the top of the sixth to produce the final, 3-1.
Illinois 7, Syracuse 3
Caira led the Orange offensively, batting .333 (1-for-3) while Grant and Daniels each hit .250 (1-for-4). Daniels and Saco each drove in a run for the Orange.
Caira, junior Angie Sagnelli and senior Brittany Gardner each saw action in the circle for the Orange. Caira threw 1.23 innings, allowing a pair of earned runs while striking out five. Sagnelli entered in relief, allowing an earned run in 2.12 innings. Gardner finished the game shutting the Illini out in 3.02 innings of work.
Illinois put the game away early, scoring all seven of its runs in the first two innings. Syracuse put three on the board in the bottom of the fifth but couldn't complete the comeback, falling 7-3.
Syracuse wraps up USF “The Game” Tournament action and its 10-day spring break trip on Sunday, March 21 against Florida State at 9 a.m.
