Syracuse University
Fordham
SU Gives Up Walk Off Homer to Lose 4-3 to Rams
3/12/2011 3:11:12 PM | Softball
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Fordham 4, Syracuse 3
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Stephanie Watts led No. 25 Syracuse (16-5) with a two-run homer in an extra-innings loss to Fordham (11-10) on Saturday, March 12. The Orange closes out Day One of the University of Virginia Spring Break Invitational with a 0-2 record.
Besides Watts, five other SU players registered hits in the outing. Lisaira Daniels went 2-for-4 at the plate and Kelly Saco recorded her fourth homerun of the season. Hallie Gibbs, Rachel Helman and Morgan Nandin each added one hit.
The Syracuse bats were quiet early in the game, as the squad's first three batters were returned to the dugout. The Rams recorded a leadoff single and were able to score on a wild pitch to take an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
Despite making solid contact, the Orange continued to struggle to find holes until Helman nailed a two-out liner into centerfield in the top of the second. Helman was left stranded at first. Jenna Caira and the Orange retired the Fordham side in order in the bottom half of the inning.
The Syracuse offense came to life in the top of the third, when Watts laced a two-run homer over the leftfield wall to put the Orange up, 2-1. L. Daniels followed with a double of her own to deep left, but was left on base. The Orange retired three consecutive Rams' batters to end the inning.
Saco lifted a high fly deep over the leftfield wall to extend the Orange lead to 3-1 in the top of the fourth, forcing Fordham to pull its All-American hurler, Jen Mineau. The Rams closed the gap in their half of the fourth. Fordham tallied back-to-back singles and recorded an unearned run on a wild throw from Watts to make it a 3-2 game.
SU was held scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings. In the home half of the sixth, Fordham's leadoff Jocelyn Dearborn sent one deep to tie the game at three a side. The Rams threatened for more, but the Orange ended the inning on a rundown out at the plate.
Nandin bounced a two-out double off the centerfield wall in the top of the seventh, but the Orange could not rally. SU shut down the Rams in the bottom of the inning to send the game to extra innings.
L. Daniels lined a one-out single to center in the top of the eighth, but was caught stealing. Gibbs laced a double to the leftfield corner and Emily Thompson, who pinch ran for Lacey Kohl, attempted to score, but was thrown out at the plate to end the inning. In the bottom of the eighth, Dearborn hit a walk-off homer to end the game and defeat the Orange, 4-3.
