SU tallies record-setting day in sweep of Niagara

Wednesday, May 4

SU Softball Stadium

4 p.m.

Syracuse University

Niagara

Hallie Gibbs registered a her third career multi-homer game, good for a new progam best against Niagara on Wednesday

SU tallies record-setting day in sweep of Niagara

5/4/2011 3:41:06 PM | Softball

Syracuse 8, Niagara 0
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	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Niagara	0	0	0	0	0	X	X	0	2	0
Syracuse	3	0	4	0	1	X	X	8	8	1

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
L - Bryson	4.1	8	8	8	4	4
W - Caira (28-9)	5.0	2	0	0	2	10

Batting Leaders	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO
Nia - Healy	2	0	1	0	0	1
SU - Gibbs	2	2	2	5	1	0

Syracuse 6, Niagara 3
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	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Niagara	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	3	6	3
Syracuse	1	2	1	0	2	0	X	6	5	1

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
L - DiMatteo	6.0	5	6	4	6	1
W - Kuwik (10-1)	4.0	5	3	3	4	7

Batting Leaders	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO
Nia - Zill	3	0	1	1	1	1
SU - Dimon	2	1	1	2	1	0

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Third baseman Hallie Gibbs batted 3-for-4 with three homeruns and six RBI to lead the Syracuse University softball team (38-11) to a doubleheader sweep against Niagara (18-20) this afternoon at SU Softball Stadium. The Orange won game one, 8-0, in five-innings via the mercy rule and took game two, 6-3. With the victories, Syracuse set a program record with 38 regular-season wins. The former program-high was 36, set by the 2006 squad.

With two homeruns in game one, Gibbs tallied the third multi-homer game of her career, setting a new program-best.

Pitcher Jenna Caira dominated in the circle, allowing no runs on three hits and striking out 10 in five innings of work during game one. She came on in relief in game two, pitching three shutout innings, giving up one hit and striking out four. Caira now owns the SU single-season strikeout record with 274. She surpasses Erin Downey, who fanned 263 batters in 2006. Caira has pitched 38 consecutive scoreless innings and has given up just one earned run in her last 57 frames.

Caira also helped herself at the plate, batting 2-for-3 with a RBI double.

Pitcher Stacy Kuwik earned the win in game two. She surrendered three runs on five hits and struck out seven in four innings.

Rightfielder Lisaira Daniels and catcher Ashley Dimon aided in the offensive effort for the Orange. L. Daniels batted .500 on the day with two runs, one RBI and a stolen base. Dimon started the second game of the twin-bill after sitting out the first contest, launching a two-run homerun to put the game out of reach.

In game one, Syracuse jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. The Orange began its offensive onslaught with a mammoth solo homerun by L. Daniels that hooked around the rightfield foul pole. After catcher Lacy Kohl drew a walk, Gibbs launched her first homerun of the day deep over the rightfield fence.

Following consecutive walks to L. Daniels and Kohl in the home half of the third, Gibbs continued the offensive fireworks with her second homerun to the opposite field. Shortstop Morgan Nandin added an insurance run with a line-drive single to right to drive in pinch runner Katie Pires and give the Orange a 7-0 advantage.

After being held scoreless in the fourth, Caira hit a RBI double in the fifth to end the game at 8-0 due to the mercy rule.

In game two, Syracuse spotted Niagara a run in the top of the first when catcher Becky Zill hit a RBI double to right field.

The Orange bounced back in the bottom of the first to tie the game, 1-1, after Kelly Saco hit a soft infield groundball out to second base that drove in second baseman Stephanie Watts.

Niagara third baseman Kayla Hines led off the second inning with an opposite field solo blast to seize a 2-1 lead for the Purple Eagles. Kuwik settled down to retire the side.

Syracuse wasted no time retaking the lead, 3-2, in the home half of the second. With runners on first and second, Watts ripped a line drive single to leftfield that drove in pinch runner Emily Thompson. The ball passed through leftfielder Brittany Richburg's legs, allowing centerfielder Veronica Grant to score from first.

In the bottom of the third, Gibbs blasted a solo shot, her third homerun of the day, to increase the Orange's lead to two runs.

Niagara cut into the deficit in the top of the fourth to make the score 4-3. A sacrifice fly to centerfield by centerfielder Kristin Sito plated rightfielder Alexis Wayne.

Caira entered the circle in relief to begin the fifth. She retired the side in order with swinging strikeouts to start and end the inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, Dimon hit a two-run homerun to grow Syracuse's lead to 6-3.

Caira breezed through Niagara's lineup in the final two innings to seal the victory for the Orange.