Syracuse University
Penn State
Caira Powers SU in Sweep of Penn State
4/28/2010 1:20:24 AM | Softball
Syracuse 2, Penn State 0
Syracuse 6, Penn State 1
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Sophomore ace Jenna Caira propelled the Orange (27-20) to a sweep of Penn State (28-18) on Tuesday afternoon at Nittany Lion Field. Syracuse shut out PSU in game one, 2-0, before securing a 6-1 victory in game two.
Caira started both games for the Orange, one-hitting the Nittany Lions in game one before continuing on for five innings in game two. Caira surrendered only two hits on the day, one in each contest, while striking out 20 and issuing only three walks in 12.0 innings. Freshman Stacy Kuwik finished game two, holding Penn State without an earned run while striking out four in 2.0 innings.
Freshman centerfielder Veronica Grant led the Orange offensively while hitting from the two spot for the first time this season. Grant hit .571 (4-for-7) with an RBI, a pair of stolen bases and a pair of runs scored. The Temple City, Calif. native also had two doubles, establishing a new freshman record with 16 doubles on the season.
Junior Hallie Gibbs was also strong at the plate, driving in half of Syracuse's runs on the day with a pair of home runs. Sophomore Lisaira Daniels and Kuwik both hit .400 (2-for-5) with a run scored. Kuwik also drove in a pair of runs with her second career home run in game two.
Junior Rachel Helman also collected a pair of hits while sophomores Kelly Saco and Stephanie Watts joined in the offensive effort as the Orange outhit the Nittany Lions, 15-4.
After six scoreless innings of play in game one, Gibbs sealed the win in the top of the seventh. Daniels singled with one out in the inning and stole second before Gibbs hit her first home run of the day off the scoreboard in right center, giving the Orange a 2-0 win.
Syracuse carried its momentum into game two, scoring a pair in the top of the first to take a lead it would never relinquish. A pair of two-run homers by Gibbs and Kuwik in the top of the fifth allowed the Orange to cruise to a 6-1 victory and complete the sweep.
SU returns to BIG EAST play as it visits Pittsburgh for a three-game series beginning Saturday, May 1.
