Saturday, May 14
Louisville, Ky.
5 p.m.
Syracuse University
1
vs
0
No. 5 Louisville
SU became back-to-back BIG EAST Tournament Champions with a 1-0 win against Louisville on May 14.
Back-To-Back BIG EAST Champions!
5/14/2011 7:51:20 PM | Softball
Syracuse 1, Louisville 0
Louisville, Ky. - The Syracuse University softball team won its second consecutive BIG EAST Tournament Championship, defeating Louisville, 1-0, on Saturday, May 14, at Ulmer Stadium. With the win, the Orange earned its second straight automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Both teams went scoreless in the first inning. Centerfielder Lisaira Daniels made a diving catch to record the third out and end the inning.
In the top of the third, first baseman junior Kelly Saco hit a stand-up double to start the lineup. Morgan Nandin, the sophomore shortstop, put down a sacrifice bunt to advance Saco to third base. Second baseman junior Stephanie Watts hit a single up the left-center gap to drive Saco across the plate and SU took a 1-0 lead.
Watts stole second with L. Daniels at the plate. SU's next batter, junior Lacey Kohl hit a single to center field, but Watts was tagged out by Louisville's catcher trying to go home to end the inning.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Louisville put runners on first and second off a single and a walk. Nandin and Saco connected for the third out of the inning to leave two runners on base.
Nandin was productive of the plate in the next inning, sending the ball to right field for a double. With two outs, L. Daniels singled to center field, but Nandin was thrown out at the plate to end SU's at bat.
The second baseman rebounded in the bottom of the fifth, assisting on the first out of the inning to Saco at first base. Saco made the second out, diving to tag the runner before reaching first base. Junior pitcher Jenna Caira recorded her third strikeout of the game to end the inning and hold the Cardinals scoreless.
The Orange went three up-three down in the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, Caira and Saco connected for the first two out and Watts threw out Louisville's Taner Fowler at first to retire the inning.
The top of the seventh followed suite for the Orange as Louisville retired three consecutive SU batters. Syracuse recorded outs on the first two at bats for Louisville in the bottom of the seventh.
The Cardinals' Jennifer Esteban singled up the middle to keep Louisville alive. Chelsea Bemis reached first on a wild pitch and Esteban advanced to third on an error to give Louisville runners on first and third with two outs. Syracuse did not allow the tying run as Saco connected with Caira at first for the final out of the game.
The Orange's defense proved to be the key, leaving 10 Louisville batters on base. Throughout the tournament, a total of 20 opponent runners were stranded on base.
Caira finished the game with four strikeouts in her second consecutive shutout to improve her season record to 34-9. She was named BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player after striking out 13 batters, allowing just 11 hits and recording two shutouts in 21 innings of work throughout the tournament.
Caira was also selected to the all-tournament team along with teammates Saco, Watts, Nandin and L. Daniels.
Louisville's left handed pitcher, Tori Collins, was also named to the all-tournament team after leading the Cardinals with nine strikeouts.
The NCAA Selection Show will be aired live on Sunday, May 15 at 10 p.m. on ESPNU. Visit SUathletics.com for complete coverage of SU's first matchup of the NCAA Tournament.
Louisville, Ky. - The Syracuse University softball team won its second consecutive BIG EAST Tournament Championship, defeating Louisville, 1-0, on Saturday, May 14, at Ulmer Stadium. With the win, the Orange earned its second straight automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Both teams went scoreless in the first inning. Centerfielder Lisaira Daniels made a diving catch to record the third out and end the inning.
In the top of the third, first baseman junior Kelly Saco hit a stand-up double to start the lineup. Morgan Nandin, the sophomore shortstop, put down a sacrifice bunt to advance Saco to third base. Second baseman junior Stephanie Watts hit a single up the left-center gap to drive Saco across the plate and SU took a 1-0 lead.
Watts stole second with L. Daniels at the plate. SU's next batter, junior Lacey Kohl hit a single to center field, but Watts was tagged out by Louisville's catcher trying to go home to end the inning.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Louisville put runners on first and second off a single and a walk. Nandin and Saco connected for the third out of the inning to leave two runners on base.
Nandin was productive of the plate in the next inning, sending the ball to right field for a double. With two outs, L. Daniels singled to center field, but Nandin was thrown out at the plate to end SU's at bat.
The second baseman rebounded in the bottom of the fifth, assisting on the first out of the inning to Saco at first base. Saco made the second out, diving to tag the runner before reaching first base. Junior pitcher Jenna Caira recorded her third strikeout of the game to end the inning and hold the Cardinals scoreless.
The Orange went three up-three down in the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, Caira and Saco connected for the first two out and Watts threw out Louisville's Taner Fowler at first to retire the inning.
The top of the seventh followed suite for the Orange as Louisville retired three consecutive SU batters. Syracuse recorded outs on the first two at bats for Louisville in the bottom of the seventh.
The Cardinals' Jennifer Esteban singled up the middle to keep Louisville alive. Chelsea Bemis reached first on a wild pitch and Esteban advanced to third on an error to give Louisville runners on first and third with two outs. Syracuse did not allow the tying run as Saco connected with Caira at first for the final out of the game.
The Orange's defense proved to be the key, leaving 10 Louisville batters on base. Throughout the tournament, a total of 20 opponent runners were stranded on base.
Caira finished the game with four strikeouts in her second consecutive shutout to improve her season record to 34-9. She was named BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player after striking out 13 batters, allowing just 11 hits and recording two shutouts in 21 innings of work throughout the tournament.
Caira was also selected to the all-tournament team along with teammates Saco, Watts, Nandin and L. Daniels.
Louisville's left handed pitcher, Tori Collins, was also named to the all-tournament team after leading the Cardinals with nine strikeouts.
The NCAA Selection Show will be aired live on Sunday, May 15 at 10 p.m. on ESPNU. Visit SUathletics.com for complete coverage of SU's first matchup of the NCAA Tournament.
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