Orange Blanks Pirates to Sweep Series

Sunday, May 1

South Orange, NJ

12 p.m.

Syracuse University

Seton Hall

Stephanie Watts blasted a grand slam in SU's series finale against Seton Hall

5/1/2011 12:47:28 PM | Softball

Syracuse 8, Seton Hall 0
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	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Syracuse	0	5	0	0	0	0	3	8	9	0
Seton Hall	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
L - Tull	1.1	4	5	5	1	3
W - Caira (27-9)	6.0	2	0	0	1	8

Batting Leaders	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO
SHU - Bennett	2	0	1	0	0	1
SU - Nandin	3	1	3	2	0	0

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Junior Stephanie Watts blasted a grand slam in the second inning to help Syracuse (36-11, 12-5) sweep the three-game series against Seton Hall (15-32, 3-19) with an 8-0 victory on Sunday. With this 36th win, the Orange tied its best-ever regular-season program performance, first set in 2006.

Today's performance also extended the squad's win streak to six games, with all victories coming by way of shutout.

Watt's long ball marked the second grand slam of her career and her first since 2009. Morgan Nandin and Leah Porter added to SU's offensive effort. Nandin was 3-for-3 at the dish with one run and two RBI, while Porter tallied a hit and a RBI of her own.

The Orange used a big second inning to put the game away early. Jasmine Watson got on board with no outs in the inning after being hit by a pitch. Kelly Saco singled to right center and Nandin nailed a base hit to leftfield for the RBI. Veronica Grant also took one for the team and was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Watts, who laced a grand slam to deep left to put SU up, 5-0.

Strong defensive work kept the bats on both sides silent until the top of the seventh when the Orange stuck again. Kealy McMullen slapped a leadoff single to left and Hallie Gibbs followed with an infield single. Rachel Helman reached on a fielder's choice and pinch hitter Porter registered an RBI single to straightaway center. On the next at bat, pinch runner Katie Pires scored on a wild pitch. With one out, Nandin hit a high sacfrice fly to deep right to score Helman and seal the 8-0 victory.

The Orange returns to action at home with a doubleheader on Wednesday, May 4 against Niagara.