SU Splits First Day At Citrus Classic

Friday, February 28

Orlando, Fla.

3:30 pm

Syracuse University

5-6

Nebraska-Omaha

12-4

Syracuse

Nebraska Omaha

2/28/2014 10:38:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Orange Shutout Nebraska-Omaha, Fall To #17/19 Missouri In Extras

UNO Box Score | UNO Blog Replay | Missouri Box Score | Missouri Blog Replay

ORLANDO - On Friday, Feb. 28, the Syracuse softball team opened the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic by splitting its two games against Nebraska-Omaha and No. 17/19 Missouri at the Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla.

The Orange (5-7) started off the day winning a 2-0 pitcher's duel against Nebraska-Omaha (12-4) before dropping an extra-inning, back-and-forth affair to Missouri (9-3), 9-7. The win in the opener ended a nine-game winning streak by the Mavericks, who beat Maryland earlier in the day.

Freshman pitcher Sydney O'Hara posted a six-hit, complete game shutout with 10 strikeouts for her third win of the season in the first game of the day. It's the second time in only three starts in O'Hara's young career that the Syracuse-area native tossed a shutout and recorded double-digit strikeouts.

Offensively, the Orange was led by a 2-for-2 effort, including a double, by freshman Nicole Lundstrom. It was Lundstrom's sixth multi-hit game on the campaign. Sophomores Corinne Ozanne and Riley Johnson drove in one run apiece with singles.

After yielding a leadoff triple in the first, O'Hara settled down to strikeout the side as the Mavericks left the runner 60-feet away from scoring.

Syracuse put the first run of the game on the score board in top of the second on Johnson's single. Back-to-back walks followed by a sacrifice bunt had the Orange with runners on second and third with only one gone. A strikeout brought up Johnson, who laced a hit right up the middle, driving in one run.

The Orange found itself in a similar spot in the fifth with runners on first and second following consecutive walks to begin the frame. 'Cuse came through again, this time it was Ozanne who singled home senior Shirley Daniels with a two-out knock up the middle.

In the bottom of the sixth, O'Hara had to pitch her way out of a jam for the second time in three innings. In both instances - the first happening in the fourth - Nebraska-Omaha had a runner on third with one out. And both times the ball was skied to right field. However, junior Mary Dombrowski's strong arm held the runner at third from tagging up and preserved the shutout.

With two outs in the seventh, the Mavericks put the tying run at the plate following Allie Mathewson's third hit of the contest, but O'Hara induced a ground out by the final batter to secure the win.

A wild affair in the nightcap saw Missouri put three runs across in the eighth inning on Angela Randazzo's two-out triple to break open a 6-6 tie.

Syracuse would not back down, however, and had the winning run on first when the final out was recorded. After retiring the first two batters, Casey Stangel issued a pair of walks to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Alyssa Dewes notched her first collegiate hit by beating out the throw to first on an infield single to cut the deficit to 9-7. With the tying run standing on second and the winning run at first, Ozanne came up empty, striking out in a nine pitch at-bat.

Senior Jasmine Watson hit a three-run homer for her team-leading fourth long ball of the season. Daniels, Dewes and junior Julie Wambold all had a single and a run batted in while sophomore Danielle Chitkowski had a hit and scored two runs.

Christina Clermont started and earned the no decision in 5.2 innings of work. O'Hara picked up the loss, giving up three unearned runs in 2.1 innings.

Missouri started things off by getting a three-run homer by Mackenzie Sykes in the top of the first inning to jump out to a 3-0 lead. The Tigers added to their lead two innings later when Kelsea Roth drew a bases loaded walk, extending the margin to 4-0.

In the bottom half of the inning, Watson smacked a three-run shot of her own to bring the Orange within 4-3.

Two more runs in the home half of the fourth gave Syracuse its first lead of the night at 5-4. With one out and Dombrowski on second, Daniels singled up the middle to even the score. Two batters later, Wambold hit a single to the same spot to send home Daniels for the 5-4 edge.

A leadoff homer by Emily Crane to start the fifth knotted the score at 5-5, but SU went right back on top in the bottom of the inning as Chitkowski came around to score on an errant throw by Missouri's shortstop.

SU's lead was short lived once again as the Tigers clawed back to even the score once more at 6-6 the next frame after Taylor Gadbois reached on a two-out single, stole second and crossed the plate on an RBI single by Crane to center.

Syracuse plays two more games on Saturday, March 1 against No. 25/RV Auburn at 1:15 p.m. and versus Bradley at 5:45 p.m.