SU Bats Power Orange Past Cornell

Wednesday, April 11

Ithaca, N.Y.

3:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

at Cornell

Watts had four RBI's in the two games

4/11/2012 7:24:50 PM | Softball

Game One | Game Two | Season Statistics

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Syracuse softball team (26-9) outscored Cornell 18-2 en route to sweeping a doubleheader from the Big Red (16-15) on Wednesday afternoon at Niemand-Robison Field.

Julie Wambold, Jasmine Watson and Stephanie Watts all hit home runs, while the SU pitching staff collectively allowed just six hits. Lisaira Daniels was 4-for-5 on the afternoon with two walks and has now reached base safely in 20-straight games.

The Orange out-hit Cornell 17-6. SU has won six games in a row and 16 of its last 17 contests.

Game One:
Jenna Caira allowed just one hit and SU scored four runs in both the fifth and sixth inning to defeat Cornell 10-1 (six innings) in the first game of the doubleheader.

Before an out was recorded in the game, Stephanie Watts provided Syracuse with a 2-0 lead by taking Cornell's starting pitcher Jenna Stoller over the left field fence. Her third long ball of the season plated Lisaira Daniels who led off the game with a walk.

After an RBI triple by the Big Red's Erin Keene in the bottom of the fourth brought the score to 2-1, Syracuse scored eight runs over the final two innings for the mercy rule victory.

In the top of the fifth inning, an RBI single by Lacey Kohl scored Watts for SU's first run of the frame. Two batters later, Julie Wambold broke the game open with a three-run homer to right field, giving SU a 6-1 lead. Wambold's opposite field shot was her eighth of the season.

Pinch hitter Mary Dombrowski led off the sixth inning with her first career hit, which was followed by a double by Leah Porter. Watts scored Dombrowski with a single, and Watson then walked to load the bases. Kohl brought in Porter with an RBI groundout, and then Watts scored her third run of the game on a passed ball. Watson crossed the plate for SU's fourth run of the inning on an error by shortstop Clare Feely to make the score 10-1.

Watts paced the offense, going 2-for-4 with three RBI's and three runs scored. Caira went five innings with six strikeouts and two walks. She is now 17-3 on the season.

Game Two:
A five run seventh inning propelled Syracuse to an 8-1 victory against Cornell in game two of the midweek twin-bill.

Veronica Grant led off the game with her first triple of the season, and scored two batters later courtesy of a Lisaira Daniels doubles to right center.

SU increased upon its 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Watson, the reigning BIG EAST Player of the Week, connected on her eighth long ball of the season with a no-doubter over the scoreboard in left field. The home run scored L. Daniels and gave SU a 3-0 cushion.

Cornell got one run back in the bottom of the sixth inning as Linda Laeufer scored from third on a wild pitch, but Lindsay Taylor was able to pitch out of trouble to preserve a 3-1 lead.

The Orange then tacked on five insurance runs in the top half of the seventh inning to distance itself from Cornell. Four different players had RBI's in the inning, highlighted a two-run double from Wambold.

Stacy Kuwik struck out eight batters in four innings of work and picked up her seventh victory of the season. Taylor pitched the final three innings and registered her second save of the season.

Syracuse is back on the diamond tomorrow afternoon as the Orange hosts Binghamton for doubleheader action at the SU Softball Complex. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.