Indiana, Penn State Sneak Past Orange

Friday, February 15

Durham, N.C.

12 pm

Syracuse University

1-4

Penn State

2-4

Penn State

Syracuse

2/15/2019 11:05:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

DURHAM, N.C. – A one-run advantage proved to be enough for #24/RV Indiana (7-0) and Penn State (3-4), as both snuck past Syracuse (1-5) Friday at the ACC/BIG10 Challenge in Durham, N.C. Bryce Holmgren led the Orange with three hits in the two games combined. Alicia Hansen, Alexis Kaiser and Alex Acevedo all tallied two hits on the day.

Dandola pitched 7.0 innings against the Nittany Lions, allowing three runs on five hits and recording a season-high five strikeouts. Miranda Hearn faced two batters in the sixth inning, before Dandola re-entered the game. Hearn came out strong with four innings of relief against the Hoosiers where she struck out four, allowing three runs.

Syracuse continues the ACC/Big Ten Challenge tomorrow with a 3 p.m. matchup against Penn State. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.

GAME 1 VS. PENN STATE
Penn State came out on top in a pitchers' duel as the Nittany Lions' Bailey Parshall threw a complete game and gave up two runs on three hits. Sophie Dandola provided a challenge on the other side of the ball, allowing three runs on five hits and notching five strikeouts. Neither pitched allowed a base runner until Holmgren drew a walk in the bottom of the fourth. Kaiser followed with a double deep into left field, scoring Holmgren for the first run of the game.

Melina Livingston singled to open the sixth inning for Penn State, and turning over the batting order for the third time. Toni Polk reached on a fielders' choice, while Livingston safely advanced to second. A sac hit moved both runners before Dubois took a hit by pitch, loading the bases for Penn State. Two consecutive walks brought in a pair of runs, as the Nittany Lions took a 2-1 lead. Penn State tacked on an insurance run in the seventh, thanks to a two-out single from Polk.

Syracuse started to put together a rally in the bottom of the seventh. Holmgren led off the inning with a single before Acevedo doubled down the right field line, scoring pinch runner Jessica Skladal. Syracuse's last two batters struck out ending the comeback attempt.

GAME 2 VS. INDIANA
Indiana quickly took a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a two-run homerun to left field. The Hoosiers took advantage of a pair of errors from the Orange, tacking on another run in the second, 3-0.

Syracuse's bats came alive in the fourth inning, as Toni Martin crushed her fourth career homerun. The momentum continued in the top of the fifth as Skladal reached base in her first collegiate at bat to lead off the frame. Following two outs, Holmgren singled for her second hit of the game. Kaiser sent a three-run shot out of the park, giving Syracuse its first lead of the game, 4-3.

Indiana wasted no time, with back-to-back hits opening the fifth inning that scored the game-tying run. Even at 4-4, the Hoosiers loaded the bases with three consecutive walks before a single scored the two lead runners for a 6-4 lead.

In the leadoff spot, Lailoni Mayfield found her way on base thanks to an error by the Hoosiers' second baseman. With one out, Alicia Hansen singled before advancing to second on the throw. Pinch runner Taylor Lane scored the Orange's fifth run of the game on a sacrifice fly from Kaiser but 'Cuse was unable to plate another run to tie the ball game.

OF NOTE

Syracuse's five runs are the most Indiana has given up in a single game thus far in 2019
Four of the Orange's six games this season have been decided by one run