‘Cuse Caps Off Trip To Illinois With 4-3 Victory

Sunday, February 8

Rosemont, IL

10:00 AM EST

Syracuse University

3-2

Western Illinois

2-1

Syracuse

Western Illinois

‘Cuse Caps Off Trip To Illinois With 4-3 Victory

2/8/2015 1:43:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Julie Wambold launched a go-ahead home run in the top of the seventh to seal the win

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Western Illinois (2-1) rallied late, scoring three runs in the final three innings but a home run by Julie Wambold in the top of the seventh proved to be the difference as Syracuse (3-2) defeats the Leathernecks, 4-3. Sydney O'Hara earns her second win of the season with the victory.

Corinne Ozanne kicked things off for the Orange in a hurry, blasting a home run to left center scoring Sammy Fernandez to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. The Orange later scored a run after Danielle Chitkowski drew a walk with the bases loaded, giving 'Cuse a 3-0 advantage through 2.5 innings.

Sydney O'Hara was rolling in the process, recording four-straight one-two-three innings until Western Illinois managed to grab a run in the fifth. Unable to respond in the sixth, Western Illinois tagged Jocelyn Cater for a run in the bottom of the inning to pull within one of the Orange.

Needing insurance, Wambold answered the call with a leadoff home run to left field, giving Cater a 2-run cushion in the bottom of the inning. Western Illinois came out swinging, floating one just over O'Hara in short right to bring in a run and cut the lead to one again with no outs.

It was then the coaches decided to swap Cater and O'Hara again by bringing O'Hara into the circle and moving Cater to first. The first batter O'Hara faced attempted to squeeze the run in but Wambold corralled the bunt fast enough to tag the runner out at home. The rest was all O'Hara as she struck out the next two batters to close the door and seal the victory.