Syracuse University
Buffalo
Syracuse Sweeps Buffalo in Home Opener
3/24/2010 8:05:06 PM | Softball
Syracuse 3, Buffalo 2
Syracuse 8, Buffalo 0
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse (14-13) impressed in its home opener, defeating in-state foe Buffalo (8-18), 3-2 and 8-0 in a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at the SU Softball Stadium. Nine different players recorded hits for the Orange, as it bested the Bulls, 17-6 in the category.
Freshman outfielder Veronica Grant was outstanding in her home debut, batting .750 (3-for-4) with five runs scored and hit her first collegiate home run, a three-run blast, in game two. Sophomore catcher Lacey Kohl hit .500 (3-for-6) with a double and a run scored while sophomore first baseman Kelly Saco also batted .500 (2-for-4) with her first triple of the season and a pair of runs scored.
Sophomores Stephanie Watts, Lisaira Daniels and Jenna Caira all hit .333 through the two games. Watts went 1-for-3 at the plate with an RBI while Daniels was 2-for-6 with an RBI. Caira was 2-for-6 with a run scored and hit her second double of the season.
Juniors Rachel Helman and Hallie Gibbs also registered hits for the Orange while freshman Meghan Boston was 1-for-1 in pinch hit appearance.
Caira earned the victory in the first game, holding the Bulls without an earned run in 7.0 innings while striking out 13, one shy of her career high.
Senior Brittany Gardner earned the victory in game two, one-hitting Buffalo while striking out five in 5.0 innings
In game one, Buffalo put a pair of runs on the board in the top of the third inning to take a 2-0 lead. Syracuse answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to earn the victory, 4-3.
It was all Orange in game two as the offense systematically dismantled the Bulls. Syracuse put a run on the board in the bottom of the first and doubled its lead in the bottom of the second. After a scoreless third, the Orange chalked up two in the bottom of the fourth before a four-run fifth ended the game, 8-0.
Syracuse returns to the diamond in a visit to Siena on Tuesday, March 30. First pitch in the doubleheader is scheduled for 2 p.m.
