Orange Upset No. 20 Texas Tech

Sunday, February 23

Houston, TX

10:30 AM ET / 9:30 AM CT

Syracuse University

5-7

Texas Tech

10-5

Texas Tech

Syracuse

2/23/2020 2:37:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

HOUSTON, TEXAS – In an eight-inning thriller, Syracuse (5-7), took down #20 Texas Tech (10-5), 3-2, on Sunday to conclude the Houston Challenge. It was the first victory over a top-25 team for the Orange since beating Notre Dame on March 26, 2016.

Kaia Oliver took the win in the circle after three innings of one-hit ball with three strikeouts. The freshman shined once again in high-pressure situations, holding the Red Raiders scoreless after they put runners in scoring position with less than two outs in the sixth and seventh inning.

TERAN TAKES IT HOME
Standing on second base as part of the International Tie Breaker rule, Gabby Teran scored the clinching run for the Orange in the bottom of the eighth inning. Teran caught the Red Raiders sleeping and motored home after Rebecca Clyde's groundout moved her over to third, avoiding the tag to send Syracuse home with the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams were unable to convert scoring opportunities in the early going. The Orange left the bases loaded in the bottom of the first inning after Jamie Gregg and Teran led off with doubles, and the Red Raiders stranded five runners in the first three frames. Dobbs walked three batters, allowed two hits and recorded two strikeouts in the opening three innings.

Syracuse finally broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs, pinch hitter Alex Acevedo and Toni Martin each hit singles, and Paris Woods' infield hit scored Jessica Skladal, who ran for Acevedo. The tally was the second run batted-in of the 2020 campaign for Woods.

Texas Tech immediately answered in the top half of the fifth, plating two runs on three hits off Alexa Romero, who entered the game in relief for Dobbs.

Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth, the Orange turned to Lailoni Mayfield to pinch hit and she delivered with a solo home run to right field to right field to tie the game at two.

The Red Raiders gave Syracuse a scare in the top of the seventh innings, putting a runner on third with one out. A fielder's choice and a strikeout from Oliver ended the threat and a 1-2-3 bottom of the inning for the Orange sent the contest into extras. Woods caught a line drive in right field and doubled off the Tech runner at second base in the top of the eighth, clearing the bases.

WEEKEND NOTES

Syracuse finished the Houston Challenge with a 2-3 record and are now 5-7 on the season.
Oliver was credited with both winning decisions over the weekend, throwing 11.1 innings and allowing five earned runs to go with eight strikeouts.
Romero's save to secure the win over Louisiana Tech was the fifth of her career. She moved into a tie for fourth in Orange history with Erin Downey (05-07).
Dobbs saw the majority of the time in the circle in the two games against Texas Tech. She gave 'Cuse 4.1 innings Sunday, not allowing a run and striking out four batters.
Martin's four RBIs in the five games were tops for the Orange. The senior hit a three-run home run in Friday's loss to Texas Tech. Neli Casares-Maher had three RBIs and led the Orange in hits with four.

UP NEXT
The Orange head back down to the Sunshine State for five games at South Florida next weekend. The action begins on Friday, February 28, with 'Cuse taking on Rutgers at 9 a.m. Syracuse will also play South Florida and Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

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