Orange Clinch First ACC Series With Win Sunday

Sunday, March 8

Chapel Hill, NC

12 PM

Syracuse University

10-10, 2-1

North Carolina

9-13, 3-3

Syracuse

North Carolina

3/8/2020 7:10:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – A four run top of the seventh inning lifted Syracuse (10-10, 2-1 ACC) over North Carolina (9-13, 3-3 ACC), 8-6, Sunday afternoon in Chapel Hill. The victory clinched the first Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) series victory on the road for the Orange since April 2019, when they won two of three at North Carolina State.

Jamie Gregg and Gabby Teran were the catalysts on offense for 'Cuse, combining for six hits and three runs batted in. Gregg's four-hit performance tied her season and career-high and Teran's single in the seventh inning brought in two runs, including the winning tally. Neli Casares-Maher also drove in a pair of runs with her triple in the fourth inning.

Alexa Romero started in the circle but it was Catie Dobbs who picked up the win and Kaia Oliver who got the save. Romero and Dobbs each allowed two earned runs and struck out three batters, and Oliver struck out two of the three Tar Heels she faced in her inning of work.

HOW IT HAPPENED
North Carolina drew first blood in the bottom half of the first inning. Romero retired the first two batters she faced, but a walk, a stolen base and a Syracuse throwing error put Tar Heels on first and third. The runner at first, Megan Dray, stole second base to draw a throw and Campbell Hutcherson was ruled safe at the plate due to catcher obstruction on the throw back home.

Toni Martin hit an RBI single to bring Gregg home and even the score at one in the visiting half of the third. Gregg led off the frame with an infield single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved over to third after Casares-Maher grounded out to first base. North Carolina took the edge back in the bottom of the inning, as Megan Dray hit a two-run homer to left field after Campbell Hutcherson drew a walk with two outs.

The Syracuse bats came alive in the top of the fourth, plating three runs to take a 4-3 advantage. Rebecca Clyde started the rally with a base hit to center, advancing to third after a Paris Woods groundout and a passed ball. Gregg's infield single scored her after Teran drew a walk and Casares-Maher ripped a triple to right field to score both the runners and put the Orange ahead, 4-3.

The bats were silent until the Tar Heels tied the score in the bottom of the fifth, courtesy of a Bri Stubbs single following two walks. A sacrifice fly from freshman Destiny Middleton put North Carolina back on top, 5-4, in the home half of the sixth, after Katie Perkins reached first on a dropped third strike, advanced to second on a passed ball, and Shayla Thompson moved her over to third with a single.

With four runs in the top of the seventh, the Orange took the lead back and held onto it for good. Toni Martin and Alexis Kaiser both reached base to lead off the inning and Lailoni Mayfield's single scored Martin to tie the game at five. With one out, Clyde worked a walk to load the bases and Miranda Hearn, pinch hitting for Woods, grounded out to score the go-ahead run. In the next at-bat, Teran slapped a two-run base hit to left field to inflate the 'Cuse cushion to 8-6.

After two Tar Heels got into scoring position to start the bottom of the seventh inning, Dobbs was replaced by Oliver. North Carolina pushed across one run, but Oliver struck out two of the three batters she faced to pick up the save and secure the win.

WEEKEND NOTES

Teran's two clutch hits totaled five runs batted in to lead all Orange on the weekend. She and Gregg now have the most 'Cuse RBIs in 2020 with 14 each. Casares-Maher also drove in three runs in the three games.
Teran was hit by four pitches over the weekend and now has eight HBPs in the 2020 campaign.
The Orange hit seven extra-base hits in the series, Casares-Maher leading with two (triple, home run).
Gregg paced Syracuse with six hits against the Tar Heels.
This was the first ACC series win for the Orange since defeating NC State on April 6-7, 2019. It was the first three-game set that Syracuse stole (won the final two games after losing the first) since a 2017 road series against Georgia Tech.
Romero's 9.1 innings were the most in the circle for any Orange pitcher, followed by Dobbs with 8.1. Romero allowed four earned runs with six strikeouts while Dobbs punched out seven and surrendered two earned scores. Oliver finished with three strikeouts in 2.1 innings.

UP NEXT
The Orange pause ACC play for five games at the Tiger Classic in Memphis, Tenn. next weekend. 'Cuse kicks off the tournament with a doubleheader against Purdue and Memphis on Friday, March 13.

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