Syracuse University
Cornell
Caira's Three Home Runs Leads Orange in Sweep of Cornell
4/15/2010 10:31:07 PM | Softball
Syracuse 4, Cornell 1
Syracuse 10, Cornell 0
ITHACA, N.Y. – Sophomore ace Jenna Caira hit three home runs to lead Syracuse (21-16) to a sweep of Cornell (21-10) on Thursday afternoon at Niemand Robinson Field in Ithaca, N.Y. The Orange defeated the Big Red, 4-1, in game run before exploding for a 10-0 victory in game two.
Caira hit .600 (3-for-5) with a trio of home runs, four runs scored and three RBI. Her two home runs in the Orange's game one victory tied a Syracuse single-game record which was last accomplished by Amy Kelley against Seton Hall on April 20, 2008.
Freshman Ashley Dimon emerged as the offensive leader on the day, batting .667 (4-for-6) with her first career double and a pair of runs scored. Junior Hallie Gibbs and sophomore Stephanie Watts each hit .333 (2-for-6) while sophomore Lisaira Daniels was 2-for-7 (.286).
Caira matched her offensive outburst with her 10th pitching victory of the season, allowing one earned run while issuing only one walk in game one. Freshman Stacy Kuwik earned the win in game two, shutting out the Big Red while allowing only one hit for the third time this season.
Syracuse 4, Cornell 1
After a scoreless first inning, Caira opened the scoring with a solo home run to right center in the top of the second. The Orange quickly added to its lead, 2-0, as Dimon hit a one-out double to right center and scored on a two-out triple to the same spot by freshman Veronica Grant.
Caira blasted her second home run of the game over the left field fence in the top of the sixth, increasing the Orange lead, 3-0.
Syracuse added an insurance run in the top of the seventh as Dimon reached on an error and was replaced by pinch runner Emily Thompson. A ground out by Grant advanced Thompson to second before a two-out single by Daniels coupled with a Cornell throwing error allowed Thompson room to cross the plate, building the lead, 4-0.
Cornell avoided the shutout with a run off of three hits in the bottom of the seventh, producing the final, 4-1.
Syracuse 10, Cornell 0
After a scoreless first, Caira once again put the Orange on the board in the top of the second. Caira led off the inning with a walk and Dimon clocked a two-out single to right, moving Caira to third. A passed ball allowed Caira to slide in safely at home, giving the Orange a 1-0 lead.
Caira increased the Syracuse lead in the top of the fifth, blasting her third home run of the day just inside the left field foul pole to build the lead, 2-0.
With a 2-0 edge, the Orange offense exploded for eight runs off of five hits and two errors in the top of the sixth to seal the victory. Daniels led off the inning, reaching on a fielding error by the second baseman and advanced to second on a passed ball. Watts singled, scoring Daniels and boosting the SU advantage, 3-0.
Gibbs reached and advanced on a throwing error by the Cornell second baseman which moved Watts to third, Thompson entered to pinch run for Gibbs. A caught foul ball in deep left field by Kuwik allowed Watts time to tag and score, 4-0, while Thompson moved to third and then scored on a wild pitch, 5-0.
Back-to-back singles by sophomore Kelly Saco and Dimon continued the rally and Meghan Boston was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Grant. Grant drew a walk, allowing Saco to trot home, 6-0, before a Daniels singled to left, driving in Dimon and Boston, 8-0.
A wild pitch advanced Daniels and Grant to second and third, respectively, and Watts walked, loading the bases. Gibbs drove in the final two runs, singling to center scoring Grant and Daniels to produce the final, 10-0.
Syracuse visits Villanova for a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 17 at 11 a.m.
