Syracuse Takes Doubleheader From UConn

Saturday, April 28

Storrs, Conn.

12:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Connecticut

Watts' solo home run proved to be the winning run in the first game of the day

Photo by: Jason Wise

4/28/2012 4:38:37 PM | Softball

Game One Box | Game Two Box | Season Statistics

STORRS, Conn. – The Syracuse University softball team (37-12, 14-4) won both games of a doubleheader against Connecticut (21-25, 9-12) on Saturday afternoon by scores of 2-0 and 5-2 at Burrill Family Field.

Jenna Caira pitched a complete game shutout and fanned 12 batters in guiding Syracuse to a 2-0 victory in the first game, while Stacy Kuwik took a no-hit big into the sixth inning of game two and finished with nine strikeouts en route to notching her 10th consecutive victory.

"Jenna and Stacy pitched great today," head coach Leigh Ross said. "They have each been so consistent and it is great to have a 1-2 punch I can go to like that."

Caira now has 998 career strikeouts and will try to become the first pitcher in BIG EAST history to reach the 1,000 K plateau in her next start.

Game One: Syracuse 2, Connecticut 0
It was a pitcher's duel early on as Caira and UConn's slinger Kiki Saveriano combined to strike out 13 batters in the first three innings, but Stephanie Watts broke the scoring open in the top of the fourth.

Watts led off the inning with a solo shot over the center field fence to put Syracuse ahead 1-0. It was her eighth home run of the season and the 30th of her career, which ranks her third all-time at SU.

The Orange tacked on another tally in the top of the fifth, but managed just one run after loading the bases with no outs. Veronica Grant registered the only RBI of the inning with a sac fly to left field which scored Carey-Leigh Thomas.

Caira allowed a one out single in the seventh inning, and followed that by hitting Amy DeLuca to put two Huskies on base, but she then recorded back-to-back groundouts and secured the 2-0 Syracuse victory.

The win was Caira's 23 of the season and she has now struck out double-digit batters in her last four-consecutive starts. She is 23-6 with a 1.57 ERA.

Game Two: Syracuse 5, Connecticut 2
It took Syracuse until the sixth inning to crack the scoreboard, but SU crossed the plate twice in the frame. Lisaira Daniels reached on an error at second base to lead off the inning, and scored two batter later when Watts roped a one-out double. Watts then scored via an RBI single by clean-up hitter Jasmine Watson.

Mary Dombrowski led off the seventh inning with a single, and Watts reached on an error, which brought up Gaby Torzilli with one out. Torzilli cleared the bases with her second-career homer and her first of the season to provide SU with a 5-0 lead.

UConn rallied in the seventh inning and scored two runs with a bases loaded, two out double by Ward, but Kuwik would squash the threat by getting Huelsenbeck to ground out for the final out of the game.

The Orange looks to sweep the three game series with the Huskies on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Fans can follow live stats and a live blog for all the action.