Orange Shut Out Niagara, Split Doubleheader

Tuesday, April 18

3 PM

Syracuse University

24-16

Niagara

12-17

Niagara

Syracuse

4/18/2017 8:44:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Cuse TV: Game One Highlights Cuse TV: Game Two Highlights Cuse TV: Mike Bosch Interview Cuse TV: Faith Cain Interview Photo Gallery

Gatti delivers seven strikeouts in game two

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Junior AnnaMarie Gatti advanced to 7-5 on the year by dishing out seven strikeouts in game two of the Tuesday doubleheader at Skytop Softball Stadium, as the Orange (25-16, 6-9 ACC) split a pair of games with Niagara (12-18, 3-5 MAAC). The Purple Eagles claimed game one, 7-6, before 'Cuse managed the shutout in game two, 7-0.

"I think you can see the difference from the pitching perspective," head coach Mike Bosch said of the pair of games. "That was my one bright spot for the day.

"I thought Anna (Gatti) threw one of the best games she's thrown all year. She really gave us a presence on the mound and shut them down. I think mentally we were a little better (in game two) but we still didn't play with the amount of focus and intensity that we saw in the weekend and that was evident in both games."

Game 1
Senior Alyssa Dewes was 2-for-2 in game one with a run, while sophomore Alicia Hansen was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs. Freshman Toni Martin was 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI, while senior Sydney O'Hara was 1-for-3 with two RBI.

The Orange came up short after a hard-fought battle in game one against Niagara, as the Purple Eagles led 7-1 after the fourth inning.

Syracuse got on the board first in the second inning, starting with a double to left center from sophomore Bryce Holmgren and an RBI single from Martin.

Niagara's offense picked up a total of seven runs in the second and third innings on eight hits.

'Cuse started to battle back in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out rally sparked by a single up the middle by Dewes. Hansen and O'Hara followed with a pair of singles to score three runs for the Orange.

Syracuse scored one run in each of the sixth and seventh innings, one of which was a solo home run to center field by Martin. SU rallied in the bottom of a seventh in one last effort to tie the game with a lead-off double from Hansen and a sacrifice fly from O'Hara, but the Orange were unable to do anymore damage and ended the game short with six total runs.

Game 2
The Orange struck first in game with a two RBI homer by junior Faith Cain in the second inning. Cain was 1-for-3 in game two with a run and two RBI. Holmgren added to the Orange hitting streak, going 2-for-3 with a triple and a single.

Sophomore Hannah Dossett was 1-for-2 on the game with an RBI double in the fourth inning to give 'Cuse a 3-0 lead, while junior Sammy Fernandez was 3-for-4 overall with an RBI.

With one out in the bottom of the sixth inning and a 3-0 lead, the Orange broke the scoring open. Junior Jessica Heese began the action with a walk to first, while Martin hit a single to left field to put two runners on. Redshirt junior Olivia Martinez walked to load the bases, before a single from Dewes allowed Heese to come in for the score.

Fernandez matched it with an RBI single to left field before Hansen flied out to right field to put two outs on the board. With bases loaded, Niagara walked O'Hara and Holmgren back-to-back for the third and fourth RBI of the frame and the seventh Orange run of the game.

Syracuse takes to the road for a doubleheader tomorrow at Siena. The Orange and the Saints square off at Siena Field beginning at 3 p.m.