Syracuse University
South Alabama
Watts Leads Syracuse Against South Alabama
3/6/2010 5:12:17 PM | Softball
Syracuse 4, South Alabama 3
BATON ROUGE, La. – Sophomore Stephanie Watts hit a solo home run over the right center field wall to lift Syracuse to a 4-3 victory against South Alabama in game three on the LSU Purple and Gold Challenge on Saturday morning. The win made the Orange the No. 2 seed in tournament play behind host 16/16 LSU.
Watts was the offensive leader for the Orange, going 2-for-2 at the plate with a pair of stolen bases. Classmate Lisaira Daniels was second, hitting .500 (2-for-4) while freshmen Meghan Boston and Stacy Kuwik, and sophomore Lacey Kohl all hit .333 (1-for-3). Kuwik, Kohl and freshman Morgan Nandin all drove in runs for the Orange.
Senior Brittany Gardner earned the win in the circle with a complete game performance. The Sterling, Va. native struck out four while allowing three earned runs and holding the Jaguars to a .174 average.
South Alabama took an early lead, scoring a pair of runs off two hits in the first inning before the Orange responded, tying the score, 2-2, in the top of the fourth.
Kuwik led off the frame with a walk and sophomore Kelly Saco singled to left field, putting the tying run on board. Kohl doubled back to the left center wall, scoring Kuwik to halve the deficit, 2-1. Nandin tied the game with a sacrifice fly to deep left field which allowed Saco time to tag and score, knotting the game, 2-2.
The Orange took its first lead of the contest in the fifth inning, as Watts drew a leadoff walk and stole second with two outs. Kuwik singled to left field, driving in Watts to give SU a 3-2 edge.
The Jaguars evened the playing field in the sixth, using a single, a sacrifice bunt, a wild pitch and a ground out to make it 3-3.
Watts concreted the victory with a leadoff solo shot over the right center field wall, producing the final, 4-3.
Syracuse faces South Alabama again in bracket play at 6:30 p.m. Winner will advance to the LSU Purple and Gold Championship game tomorrow.
