Syracuse Sweeps Niagara in Home Debut

Wednesday, March 23

3PM

Syracuse University

13-14

Niagara

2-11

Niagara

Syracuse

3/23/2016 9:10:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse softball team made its home debut in winning fashion, picking up doubleheader victories against in-state foe Niagara on Wednesday at Skytop Softball Stadium.

The Orange (14-14) outscored the Purple Eagles (2-12) 12-1 on the day, registering a 7-1 victory in the first game and a 5-0 shutout in the latter game.

Sophomore Sammy Fernandez produced three hits and one RBI in each of the games, finishing the day going 6-8 at the plate, including a triple in the first game. Freshman Andrea Bombace was responsible for four of the six RBIs in the first game, following a grand slam home run in the bottom of the third inning. Her bomb over the center field fence marked her first grand slam of her career and fifth home run of the year.

Sophomore pitcher AnnaMarie Gatti was just shy of a no hitter in the second game, holding Niagara hitless until the top of the sixth inning. She tossed a full seven innings, allowing no runs and one hit while retiring eight batters.

Syracuse's 5-0 win in the second game marked its sixth shutout victory of the season and the first time the Orange have allowed its opponent just one hit in a game this season.

GAME 1
After two initial scoreless innings, the Orange struck first in the bottom of the third, after a Fernandez triple and two subsequent walks by Maddi Doane and Corinne Ozanne loaded the bases. With two outs on the board, Bombace sent one well over the center field wall for a grand slam home run to put Syracuse at a quick 4-0 advantage.

Niagara answered in the top of the fourth, scoring off of a base hit to center field with two walked batters on base. That's as far as the Purple Eagles would get, however, as the Orange extended its advantage with three more runs in the bottom of the fifth.

After Bombace walked and Dossett reached first on a fielder's choice play at third, the Orange used two Purple Eagle errors to eventually send Bombace and Dossett home in separate at bats. Bombace advanced to third on an error and scored on an Olivia Martinez RBI single, while Dossett reached home plate on a fielding error by the shortstop. Fernandez's third base hit of the game came in the form of an RBI single through the left side, sending Martinez home and finalizing a 7-1 victory for the Orange.

GAME 2
Syracuse got on the boards early in the bottom of the first, with Fernandez starting things off with a lead-off base hit up the middle. After advancing to second on a wild pitch and Doane walking to first in the next at bat, another wild pitch put the duo in scoring position. With bases loaded after Ozanne reached first on a walk, Bombace used a sacrifice fly out to center field to bring Fernandez at third home, making it a 1-0 ballgame.

The Orange continued to hold the Purple Eagles hitless and scoreless while adding the rest of its runs on the day in the bottom of the fourth. After a successful bunt by Alicia Hansen, Dossett reached first on an error by the first baseman, while a subsequent base hit to right field by Danielle Chitkowski loaded the bases for 'Cuse.

In the next at bat, a fly out to left field with Alyssa Dewes at the plate sent Hansen home to put the Orange at a 2-0 advantage. With two outs on the board, the Orange didn't stop, as a base hit through the left side by Fernandez sent brought Dossett home. In the next at bat, a Niagara error by the first baseman with Doane at the plate welcomed both Fernandez and Chitkowski to home plate to seal a 5-0 victory.

Syracuse continues its homestand this weekend, returning to ACC play facing No. 19 Notre Dame in a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, Mar. 25. The first pitch on Friday is set for 2 p.m.

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