Caira Throws No-Hitter; Saco Walk-Off HR

Sunday, April 22

Syracuse, N.Y.

12:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

RUTGERS

Kelly Saco hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh against Rutgers

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

4/22/2012 2:31:01 PM | Softball

Box Score | Season Stats | Photos

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Behind a no-hitter from Jenna Caira and a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh by Kelly Saco, the Syracuse University softball team (34-11, 11-3) defeated Rutgers (22-24, 9-10) by a score of 1-0 on Sunday afternoon at the SU Softball Stadium.

“I am so proud of these girls,” head coach Leigh Ross said. “I could tell early on that Jenna was on her A-game today. For Kelly, she has proven that she can deliver clutch hits at critical times in a game, and I'm excited that the team, as a whole, gets to celebrate this win.”

Caira struck out 13 batters while issuing just two walks and only allowed one base runner to advance past second base the entire game. This is the third no-hit effort of Caira's career, and her first since April 13th, 2009 against Canisius. She also no-hit Villanova the week before on April 5th, 2009. Caira now owns three of the five no-hitters thrown in SU history.

Saco provided the dramatics with a leadoff shot in the bottom of the seventh inning over the right-center field fence off of Rutgers pitcher Alyssa Landrith. It was Saco's second home run of the year and also her second walk-off hit. The Miami, Fla. native laced a game-winning single in the Carrier Dome against Canisius back on March 24^th.

Lisaira Daniels had a double in the fifth inning and Jasmine Watson had a single up the middle in the sixth for the games only other two hits.

In three starts this week, Caira struck out 40 batters, including a career-high 18 against Rutgers in the opening game of the series. She is now 21-5 on the season with a 1.69 ERA.

Syracuse took 2-of-3 from Rutgers this weekend and has now won all seven of its series this season. SU is 14-2 in the month of April and is 29-6 in its last 35 games.

SU begins a seven-game road trip this Wednesday with a midweek doubleheader at conference foe DePaul. The Orange will then pay visits to Connecticut and Niagara before wrapping up the regular-season at home against South Florida on May 5-6.