Syracuse University
Louisville
Orange Duo Sets Stolen Base Record at Louisville
4/22/2010 1:20:56 AM | Softball
Louisville 6, Syracuse 2
Louisville 7, Syracuse 4
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Syracuse (23-19, 7-6) dropped a pair of games to Louisville (28-15, 7-5) on Wednesday afternoon at Ulmer Stadium. The Cardinals took game one, 6-2, before completing the sweep with a 7-4 game two victory. Both contests were televised live on ESPNU.
Sophomore Lisaira Daniels and freshman Veronica Grant furthered their race for the SU single-season stole base title, each surpassing the previous record of 20 during Wednesday's doubleheader. Grant had a stolen base while Daniels took the lead in the category with a pair of swipes. The three stolen bases also gives the Orange a single-season record for stolen bases in a season with 54, the previous mark was 52 set in 2009.
Juniors Rachel Helman, Hallie Gibbs and Daniels led the Orange offensively. Helman hit a team-best .600 (3-for-5) with a run and a pair of RBI through the two games while Gibbs hit .500 (3-for-6) with two doubles. Daniels went 3-for-7 at the plate with a run scored.
Sophomores Lacey Kohl, Jenna Caira and Kelly Saco each notched a pair of hits on the day. Kohl batted .400 (2-for-5) while Caira was 2-for-6 with an RBI. Saco rounded out the offense, going 2-for-7 with a pair of runs knocked in.
Senior Brittany Gardner was the leading pitcher on the day, entering in relief in both games, allowing a pair of earned runs while issuing only one walk and striking out two in 4.2 innings of work.
Louisville 6, Syracuse 2
The Cardinals scored first, notching a run off a pair of hits and an error in the bottom of the first, taking a 1-0 advantage.
The contest quickly turned into a pitchers duel as Caira allowed only two hits and four base runners while shutting out the hosts through the next three half innings. Louisville starter Tori Collins was equally impressive through the middle innings, holding the Orange to one hit and two base runners through the second through fifth innings.
Louisville broke the game open in the in the top of the fifth, plating five runs off of four hits to boost its advantage, 6-0.
The Orange responded in the top of the sixth, scoring a pair off of four hits to cut the deficit, 6-2. Gibbs led off the inning with a double to left center and freshman Emily Thompson entered to pinch run at second. Kohl singled to left putting runners on the corners and sophomore Leah Porter entered to pinch run before a single to left by Caira scored Thompson.
The Cardinals made a pitching switch following Thompson's run as Kristen Wadwell entered in relief. Wadwell fanned the first two batters she faced before junior Rachel Helman broke through with a single to left field that scored Porter from second, 6-2.
Gardner entered to pitch the final frame for the Orange, shutting out the Cardinals while allowing one hit and striking out a pair. Caira (12-9) took the loss for the game, finishing with four earned runs and six strikeouts through 5.0 innings of work.
Louisville starter Collins (10-4) earned the win, allowing a pair of earned runs off of four hits while striking out six in 5.0 innings. Wadwell finished with no earned runs, a pair of hits surrendered and four strikeouts in 2.0 innings of work.
Louisville 7, Syracuse 4
The Cardinals carried their momentum into game two, scoring first with a run off of one hit and an error in the bottom of the first.
After a scoreless second inning, Syracuse responded, evening the score with a run off of three hits in the top of the third. Helman led off the inning with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Grant. Daniels singled through the left side, putting Helman on third before Gibbs drove in the run with a two out blast to left field.
Louisville quickly reclaimed the lead, scoring four off of three hits and an error to make it, 5-1.
The Orange cut into the deficit, with a run off of three hits in the top of the sixth. Gibbs drew a walk to lead off the inning and Thompson entered to pinch run. Back-to-back singles by Caira and Saco loaded the bases before a two-out single to left by Helman plated Thompson, 5-2.
The Cardinals used three hits to score a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, distancing the Orange, 7-2.
Syracuse refused to go down without a fight, scoring a pair of runs off two hits in the top of the seventh. Daniels led off the inning with a single to center and Watts walked. After a pair of strikeouts, Daniels stole third and Caira walked, loading the bases for Saco, who singled to center driving in Daniels and Watts to produce the final, 7-4.
The Orange hosts Connecticut at the SU Softball Stadium for a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader Saturday, April 24 at noon.
