‘Cuse Takes One From UNC

Friday, April 3

Syracuse, NY

2:00 PM EST

Syracuse University

14-18, 0

North Carolina

25-10, 0

North Carolina

Syracuse

4/3/2015 9:38:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Syracuse held one of the Nation’s top offenses to two runs in its victory

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange (14-19) did not disappoint the fans at the first home doubleheader of the season. Syracuse pitchers held North Carolina (26-10) quiet for most of the day but after scoring just three runs total in the first 12 innings of competition, the Tarheels threw together five runs in the final two innings of the second game to defeat Syracuse, 6-2, after 'Cuse took the first game, 4-2.

"I couldn't be more proud of the way our pitchers went out there and battled against a very good North Carolina team today," said Coach Bosch of his pitching staff. "Joc (Jocelyn Cater) threw the ball very well and pitched her way out of some tough situations in game one. Fortunately we were able to get some timely hitting, give her a lead to work with and keep her comfortable and confident out there ... In game two, Anna (AnnaMarie Gatti) showed a lot of promise. She gave everyone today a glimpse of how good she can be even without her best stuff."

Game One Highlights

Jocelyn Cater showed why she's one of the country's best in the circle once again in the complete game victory. She held one of the Nation's best hitting teams to just three hits, two of which were solo shots from the Tarheels' leadoff hitter. The two runs were all UNC could manage and Cater finished the day with eight strikeouts.
Julie Wambold lifted the Orange to a 2-0 lead with a two-run shot to right-center scoring Sydney O'Hara. The home run was her second this season.
Corinne Ozanne was the difference maker when she belted her 11th home run of the season to drive in two and hoist 'Cuse to a 4-2 lead.
Maddi Doane finished the game two-for-three with a run scored off of Ozanne's homer.

Cater Holds Off The ACC's Best Hitting Team
Syracuse's starting pitcher, Cater, held the Tarheels scoreless for the first two innings of play and received run support soon after. Wambold took advantage of an error that allowed O'Hara to reach base by sending a two-run blast over the right-center fence to give the Orange a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second.

UNC's leadoff hitter, Taylor Wilke was the only one that found success off Cater as she homered in the third to cut the deficit to one. However, despite the brief push from UNC's offense, Ozanne responded promptly with a two-run shot of her own to make it a 4-1 ballgame. North Carolina's Wilke tagged Cater for another solo shot in the seventh but it didn't matter as the Orange defeated the Tarheels, 4-2.

Game Two Highlights

AnnaMarie Gatti made her first collegiate start and was nothing short of impressive in 5.2 innings of work. After the freshman allowed a run to score in the first, she shut down a dangerous Tarheel lineup for four innings until it managed to grab two more and make it a 3-1 game. She pitched to contact as UNC grounded out 12 times in the game.
Danielle Chitkowski took advantage of an error made by the Tarheels that allowed Rachel Burkhardt to reach base. Chitkowski followed up with a RBI double to tie the game at one. She finished the game two-for-three with two doubles.
Alyssa Dewes kicked off the seventh with a leadoff double and later scored on a wild pitch.
Maddi Doane and Corinne Ozanne each finished the game with two hits in four at-bats.
Sammy Fernandez logged a hit in three at-bats.

Gatti's Got Game
A bit of nerves got the best of Gatti to begin the game as she allowed a run to score on a wild pitch. However, once she settled down she was tremendous, throwing four-straight innings of scoreless ball to keep the Orange in the game after Chitkowski tied the game at one in the second.

The six and seventh innings were in favor of the Tarheels as they used five runs to take a 6-1 lead heading to the bottom of the seventh. Two of the five runs came off of Gatti before a pitching change was made to bring in O'Hara.

Dewes began the final frame with a leadoff double and later scored on a wild pitch. The run was all Syracuse could muster as it eventually fell to UNC, 6-2. 'Cuse missed on some key RBI opportunities throughout the game with nine runners left on base in the game.

(4/3/2015) Softball tackles North Carolina