Syracuse University
South Alabama
Orange Advances to Tournament Championship
3/6/2010 11:57:48 PM | Softball
Syracuse 5, South Alabama 3
Live Chat Transcript
BATON ROUGE, La. – Second-seeded Syracuse defeated South Alabama, 5-3, in bracket play on Saturday night at Tiger Park to advance to the Purple and Gold Challenge Championship. The Orange will battle with host 16/16 LSU tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. CT for the tournament title.
Sophomores Stephanie Watts combined to lead the Orange offensively, driving in four of the five runs between them as both hit .667 (2-for-3) with a double and a pair of RBI. Freshman Veronica Grant and junior Hallie Gibbs both hit .500 (1-for-2), Grant had two stolen bases while Gibbs recorded an RBI.
Sophomore Jenna Caira earned the win in the circle, allowing only one earned run while striking out seven in a complete game performance.
South Alabama used two hits in the top of the first to put a run on the board. The Jaguars added a second run off of a hit and an error in the top of the third to make it 2-0.
The Orange put three runs on the board in the top of the third to take its first lead of the contest. Grant was hit by a pitch with two outs in the inning and stole second. Watts doubled to left field, scoring Grant and a single up the middle by Daniels scored Watts. Daniels advanced to second on the throw home and took third on a wild pitch. Gibbs singled through the left side, driving in Daniels to put SU up, 3-2.
The Jaguars quickly knotted the game again, scoring a run off of a hit and an error in the top of the fifth.
The top of the order continued to produce for the Orange in the bottom of the fifth, putting up two runs off of three hits to seal the victory. Grant led off the inning with a single to left and stole second. Watts singled to left field, driving in Grant and advanced to second on the throw home. Daniels drove in the insurance run, doubling to right center, scoring Watts to produce the final, 5-3.
Syracuse faces 16/16 LSU in the Purple and Gold Challenge Championship tomorrow, Sunday, March 7 at 12:30 p.m. CT.
