Sixth Inning Go-Ahead Homer Caps 'Cuse Comeback

Wednesday, March 12

Buies Creek, NC

5 pm

Syracuse University

7-13

Campbell

14-13

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Syracuse	0	0	0	5	1	1	0	7	9	1
Campbell	1	0	5	0	0	0	0	6	9	1

3/12/2014 9:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Box Score | Blog Replay

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Syracuse overcame a six-run deficit with seven runs in the final four innings to defeat Campbell 7-6 in a non-conference game on Wednesday, March 12.

After falling behind 6-0 heading into the top of the fourth, the Syracuse (7-13) bats woke up for five runs on six hits in the get within a run. Sophomore Corinne Ozanne added a solo shot in the fifth to tie the score and freshman Alyssa Dewes crushed one of her own in the top of the sixth that proved to be the game-winner.

"The first three innings I was wondering what was going on because we really weren't doing much, so it was a little frustrating," said head Coach Leigh Ross. "And then when they (Campbell) scored all of their runs, as a coach you look at the track record lately and we've been down. Initially I thought 'okay we'll see what we're made, we'll see who is going to step up."

Ozanne was one of those who stepped up in a big way, finishing 3-for-4 with two home runs and three runs batted in. It is the second multi-homer game of Ozanne's career, joining only six other players in Syracuse history to accomplish the feat at least twice.

Dewes hit the first four-bagger of her career and scored two runs while sophomore Danielle Chitkowski hit her second dinger in as many games. Freshman Nicole Lundstrom extended her hitting streak to five games with a two-run single.

Freshman Sydney O'Hara (5-5) pitched four innings of relief, striking out six while only giving up two hits, to earn the win. She also hit a double at the plate.

Courtney Klinger broke open the scoring with a two-out jack in the bottom of the first to help Campbell (14-13) jump out to a 1-0 lead.

The Camels pushed five runs across the plate in the bottom of the third to extend their advantage to 6-0. A two-run double by Milly Martinet made it 3-0. Campbell proceeded to load the bases, and an error off the bat of Olivia Scarborough allowed another run to score. Bailey Bjorson followed with a single that plated two more runs to give the hosts its largest margin of 6-0.

Syracuse had an answer for each one of Campbell's runs, scoring five of its own in the next half inning. Senior Jasmine Watson singled for SU's first hit of the game in the fourth and Ozanne followed with a two-run bomb. Two pitches later, Chitkowski made it back-to-back homers for the second time in as many games.

"Cory (Ozanne) did the same thing as yesterday, just started with getting a couple of runs on the board. Then Dani (Chitkowski) came in and put another run up," said Ross. "I think with that mindset, they're gaining confidence through that and we need more kids to have that mentality and want to be the one to step up."

The Orange continued its hot-hitting in the inning and loaded the bases. With two gone, Lundstrom lined a pitch back up the middle to plate two more runs to get Syracuse within 6-5.

Ozanne was back at it again the next inning, blasting her second homer of the game to even the score at 6-6. O'Hara pitched a perfect fifth, striking out a pair, to get the Orange offense up to bat again. This time it was Dewes playing hero as her first career home run cleared the fence in left center.

"I thought they fought through a lot of things today. The fans we're pretty tough on them, the crowd was pretty loud. Alyssa Dewes was big today with that home run. I think they were razzing her harder than anybody at that point," said Ross.

O'Hara allowed a leadoff single in the sixth, but recovered to retire the last six batters of the contest, sitting three of them down on strikes to complete the comeback.

Syracuse wraps up its six-game trip to North Carolina with a contest on Friday, March 14 at Appalachian at 1 p.m. The meeting was originally slated as a doubleheader for Thursday, March 13.