'Cuse Falls to #22 UCF, Charlotte

Saturday, February 27

Orlando, FL

1:15 PM

Syracuse University

5-6

UCF

6-8

Syracuse

UCF

2/27/2016 11:40:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Syracuse softball team dropped two games against No. 22 UCF and Charlotte both in 4-0 decisions on Saturday in the Citrus Classic at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Sophomore Sammy Fernandez led the Orange (5-7) with three hits on the day, registering two in the first game against the Knights and one against the 49ers off of five total at bats. The infielder also tallied a stolen base in each of the games, while collecting a team-high five putouts on the defensive end against UCF.

Junior Sydney O'Hara picked up a base hit in each of the games and totaled five strikeouts on the day while serving as the relief pitcher in both games.

GAME 1
Sammy Fernandez collected half of the Orange's hits against the Knights (7-8), going 2-3 with base hits in the top of the first and third innings. Freshman Alicia Hansen and junior Sydney O'Hara also notched hits at the top of the second and sixth innings, respectively, but the Orange struggled to convert, as the Knights racked up runs in the first, second, and fifth innings.

UCF picked up two runs in the bottom of the first off of a wild pitch and an error at first that sent runners at third to home plate. The Knights struck again in the bottom of the second, scoring off of back-to-back doubles to make it a 3-0 advantage.

The Orange held the Knights scoreless for two innings after that, before UCF capped the victory in the bottom of the fifth after a lead-off triple and a subsequent base hit sent the runner at third home.

GAME 2
Fernandez logged the first Orange hit of the game in the bottom of the third, after a successful bunt brought her to first base with two outs. The infielder then stole second with Corinne Ozanne at the plate in the next at bat, but it was too little too late, as a ground out retired the Orange for the inning.

In the next inning, Maddi Doane recorded a base hit with two outs, but was called out after attempting to continue her run to second.

Pitcher AnnaMarie Gatti registered five strikeouts and one walk over the course of five innings, while Sydney O'Hara added two strikeouts in the final two innings.

The 49ers (12-1) got on board early in the top of the first, after a fielding error sent a runner at second home after the second at bat of the game. The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth, before a wild pitch set a runner up in scoring position at third. Consequent base hits to second and up the middle sent the runners at third home, making it a 3-0 Charlotte advantage.

The 49ers drove in one more run in the top of the seventh, after a single down the left field line reeled the runner in at second home with two outs. O'Hara started things off with a base hit up the middle in the Orange's final at bat, but that's as close as it would get, as three outs in a row in the following at bats secured a 4-0 victory for the 49ers.

Syracuse finishes its weekend at the Citrus Classic tomorrow, Feb. 28, taking on Bryant at 10 a.m.