Orange Down Bulls, Claim USF Tournament

Sunday, March 1

Tampa, FL

11:30 AM

Syracuse University

8-9

South Florida

10-8

Syracuse

USF

3/1/2020 5:04:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

TAMPA, FLA. – Three hits and two runs batted-in from Toni Martin lifted Syracuse (8-9) over South Florida (10-8), 7-5, on Sunday in the title game of the USF Tournament in Tampa. It was the sixth win for the Orange over the Bulls in the history of the program and the first since a 2-1 victory on March 3, 2017.

Jamie Gregg also knocked in a pair of runs in a 2-for-5 performance at the plate and Alexis Kaiser homered for the second consecutive contest. Mia Cunnings added an RBI and her single in the fifth inning extended her hitting streak to three games.

Alexa Romero got her fourth win of the 2020 campaign in the circle, pitching five innings in relief of starter Catie Dobbs. Romero allowed three earned runs on four hits and struck out eight South Florida batters in the triumph. Her career win total rises to 46, two shy of Stacy Kuwik (2010-13), who ranks second in Orange history.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Kaiser picked up right where she left on Saturday, blasting a long solo homer over the wall in left field to put the Orange ahead, 1-0. The shot marked the sophomore's fourth consecutive at-bat with a hit and her second round-tripper of the tournament.

Dobbs retired the first two South Florida batters in the bottom of the second inning, but hit two Bulls and walked another to load the bases with two outs. A past ball and a throwing error brought home two USF runs and gave them a 2-1 advantage after two innings. Dobbs recorded a punch out to end the inning but was replaced by Romero in the third.

Gabby Teran and Neli Casares-Maher each hit singles to start the top of the third. Ground balls from Rebecca Clyde and Cunnings scored each of the runners and Syracuse retook the lead, 3-2. It did not last long, as junior Madison Epperson evened the score at three with a solo home run in the bottom of the frame.

After a scoreless fourth for both teams, the Orange lit up the board again in the visiting half of the fifth. Cunnings' base hit up the middle and a walk for Kaiser began the rally, and Martin brought home Jessica Skladal and Jaime Barta, who were pinch running for Cunnings and Kaiser. A single from Lailoni Mayfield moved Martin to third and Gregg grounded out to the shortstop to score the third run of the inning, putting Syracuse on top, 6-4.

Martin's third hit of the day was a double to lead off the top of the seventh inning and Gregg's single to right field brought her home and gave the Orange an insurance tally. The Bulls got within two runs in the bottom of the inning thanks to junior Aliyah Carter's solo shot, but Romero punched out two hitters in the frame to seal the 7-5 win and the tournament title.

WEEKEND NOTES

Romero saw most of the action in the circle, tossing 16 innings and fanning 27 batters in three appearances. She went 1-1 in two decisions against South Florida and did not walk a batter in either game. The senior is now 4-2 on the season.
Dobbs' picked up her first career win on Friday in a 6-1 victory over Rutgers.
Martin, Gregg and Cunnings each recorded five hits in the five games over the weekend to lead the Orange.
Kaiser paced Syracuse with five runs batted-in, all coming in the final two games. She also hit two of three Orange home runs, the other coming from Teran.
Three different 'Cuse players now have 10 or more RBIs in 2020 (Kaiser – 11, Gregg – 11, Martin – 10).
The Orange registered 10 hits in the second meeting with Rutgers and the second game vs. South Florida.

UP NEXT
Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play begins next weekend as the Orange travel to Chapel Hill for a three-game set with North Carolina. First pitch of the series is scheduled for Friday, March 6, at 6 p.m. and all games will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.

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