Syracuse University
Gardner-Webb
Syracuse Sweeps Day Two with Two Shutout Wins
3/5/2011 8:52:17 PM | Softball
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Syracuse 15, Gardener-Webb 0
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Syracuse 3, North Dakota State 0
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GAINSVILLE, Fla. – The Syracuse University softball squad (15-3) earned two decisive victories on Day Two of the University of Florida Lipton Invitational. The Orange recorded a five-inning, 15-0 win against Gardner-Webb (3-10) to start the day. SU's offense did not let up in its second game, as the team defeated North Dakota State, 4-0.
Juniors Stephanie Watts, Lacey Kohl, and Hallie Gibbs led Syracuse's offensive effort on Day Two. Watts went 3-for-8 at the dish, with three RBI, two homeruns, and three runs scored. Kohl added four RBI and one homer of her own, going 4-for-5 at the dish. Gibbs rounded out the SU batting leaders with two hits, three RBI, and one homerun on Saturday.
In game one, SU outhit Gardner-Webb, 15-1, marking the fifth time this season that the team has logged 10 or more hits in a game. The Syracuse offense came on strong in the top of the first and never looked back. Senior leftfielder Rachel Helman scored the team's first run on a wild pitch before the Orange added three more insurance runs in the same inning. Gibbs reached on a fielder's choice, which scored Lisaira Daniels, and Kealy McMullen followed, adding two RBI of her own.
After Syracuse added three in the visiting half of the second, KelseyWitter landed GWU's only hit of the game. Watts retaliated by nailing a two-run homerun to right center in the top of the third. The Orange logged its final six runs of the game, including another Watts homer, in the fifth to enact the mercy rule, giving the squad a shutout 15-0 victory.
Stacy Kuwik was strong on the mound for the Orange, allowing only one hit in her five inning outing.
With 15 runs in the contest, the Orange topped a single-game program best. The previous record of 14 runs was set in 2006 against Seton Hall.
In the team's second outing of the day, Syracuse once again scored all it would need in just the first inning of play. Kohl and Gibbs opened up the game with consecutive homeruns to give SU a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. This marks the first time that the Orange has put together back-to-back homers since April 25, 2007.
The remainder of the game was a defensive battle, as Syracuse was not able to get another hit in the contest. North Dakota threatened to score in the fifth, as Jamie Gay advanced to as far as third after doubling to left center, but junior ace Jenna Caira held the Bison to just two hits to help the Orange take the 3-0 victory.
