Syracuse and Rutgers Split Doubleheader

Saturday, April 21

Syracuse N.Y.

12:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

RUTGERS

Jenna Caira had a career-high 18 strikeouts against Rutgers

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

4/21/2012 4:54:22 PM | Softball

Game One | Game Two | Season Statistics | Photos

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse University softball team (33-11, 10-3) split a pair of games with Rutgers (22-23, 9-9) on a cold and rainy Saturday afternoon at the SU Softball Stadium. The Scarlet Knights won game one 3-1 and Syracuse took game two 5-3.

Game One: Rutgers 3, Syracuse 1
Despite a career-high 18 strikeouts from Jenna Caira, Rutgers was able to hang on for a 3-1 victory in the opening game of the three game set.

Caira bettered her previous career-high of 16 strikeouts which she set last year against Hawaii. She has reached double-digit strikeouts in four games this season.

The Scarlet Knights scored one run in the first inning and two in the second, while Carey-Leigh Thomas brought home Lisaira Daniels in the bottom of the fourth with a sacrifice fly for SU's only run.

Caira struck out Lindsey Curran to open the game, but Curran reached on a wild pitch and was eventually singled home by Jennifer Harabedian. Rutgers then surged ahead 3-0 in the second with an RBI double and RBI single. Caira though, allowed just one hit for the remainder of the game.

Rutgers maintained its lead thanks in part to Curran who robbed two – two-run homers in center field with spectacular catches. Her first one, in the fifth inning, came off the bat of Stephanie Watts who gave it a ride to left center, but Curran reached over the wall and brought the ball back into the park. Jasmine Watson also had one hauled back an inning later in right center. Syracuse did not get a base runner on in the bottom of the seventh and Rutgers handed the Orange its first loss at home this season.

Game Two: Syracuse 5, Rutgers 3
In Syracuse's 44th game of the season, Stacy Kuwik had 12 strikeouts, while Stephanie Watts and Jasmine Watson each hit home runs to help Syracuse defeat Rutgers 5-3 in game two of the doubleheader.

Watson put Syracuse ahead 1-0 with her ninth long ball of the year in the bottom of the second. Watts then chased Rutgers' pitcher Abbey Houston out of the game in the bottom of the third with a two-run shot which put the Orange head 3-0.

Rutgers responded with two runs in the top of the fifth, but Syracuse answered with two runs in the home half of the inning. With Kelly Saco on third base, she scored when Lisaira Daniels stole second and the attempted pickoff throw went to the outfield. Daniels then scored via an RBI single from Lacey Kohl, putting the Orange ahead 5-2.

The Scarlet Knights loaded the bases in the seventh inning and cut into the lead with an RBI single from Loren Williams with one out. Kuwik, who went the distance in the win, got the next two Rutgers batters to pop up and picked up her 11th victory of the season.

With 12 more K's today, Kuwik has now compiled 65 strikeouts in her last six starts. Her streak of 37 innings of not allowing an earned run was snapped in the top of the fourth.

Syracuse and Rutgers conclude the three game set on Sunday with first pitch set for 12:00 p.m. Fans can follow live stats and a live blog of the game by clicking here.

Notes: Rutgers handed Syracuse its first loss at home this season, and its first loss when Syracuse was wearing its orange uniforms … Watson has now tied her HR output of last season with nine … This is the second time this season Caira and Kuwik have combined to strike out 30 batters in a doubleheader (Binghamton – Kuwik 17 K's, Caira 13 K's)