Orange Outlast Eagles in 11 Innings

Sunday, February 12

Athens, GA

10:30 AM

Syracuse University

3-2

Winthrop

1-4

Winthrop

Syracuse

2/12/2017 1:57:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

‘Cuse finishes UGA Tournament with 3-2 record

ATHENS, Ga. – In an 11-game thriller at Jack Turner Stadium, the Orange (3-2) came back from a 4-0 deficit to outlast Winthrop (1-4), 6-5, and sweep the Eagles over a two-game series in Athens.

Syracuse finished tournament play at the Red and Black Showcase with a 3-2 record, falling only to the tournament host and No. 12 ranked Georgia Bulldogs.

The Orange were strong from the pitcher's circle, as the trio of junior AnnaMarie Gatti, senior Sydney O'Hara and freshman Alexa Romero led the Orange effort.

Romero allowed zero runs in 6.2 innings pitched, while walking just two batters. The freshman is now 2-1 on the season.

Winthrop tallied four second-inning runs from a 3 RBI homerun and an RBI single, leaving the Orange behind by four runs.

In the top of the fourth frame, Winthrop had runners in scoring position on second and third. Gatti struck the Eagles batter out swinging to end the inning and put the Orange back at home plate.

Sophomore Bryce Holmgren answered for the Orange with a pop fly that just barely hit inbounds near left field to bring sophomore Alicia Hansen and O'Hara in for the score and narrowing the gap to just two runs, 4-2.

An Orange error in the fifth inning rewarded the Eagles with a fifth and final run of the game.

Coming in clutch for Syracuse once again, Holmgren hit a bouncing double to bring O'Hara home and sophomore Hannah Dossett to third.

Junior Jessica Heese nailed a huge line drive to center field to bring Dossett and Holmgren home and to tie the game, 5-5.

The Orange defense forced an 11th inning for the Orange, as the Eagles had a runner on third with two outs. Winthrop tried to steal home plate to win the game off of a Syracuse wild pitch, but Dossett lobbed the ball from the back stop to Romero at home plate to make the out and end the frame.

Hansen began the action for the Orange in the bottom of the 11th inning with a single hit to get on base. Making a second big play of the game for Syracuse, Dossett tallied a walk-off single grounder through second base to bring Hansen home for the score and seal the 6-5 victory for the Orange.

The Orange continue tournament play in Boca Raton, Florida, at Florida Atlantic next weekend. Syracuse will take on St. John's, Savannah State, Tulsa and Toledo in two games apiece on Friday and Saturday.

For all of the latest information on Syracuse softball, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Softball), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseSB), and Instagram (@cusepics & @cusesb).