2009 Softball Weekly Recaps
May 11, 2009
Syracuse made its fifth straight and sixth overall appearance at the BIG EAST Tournament on Thursday, May 7. Despite taking a 1-0 lead and holding it for almost the entirety of the game, USF stole a 5-4 victory after nine innings.
Sophomore Rachel Helman and Stephanie Watts led the Orange in the opening game of the tournament. Helman finished 2-for-4 with a run, while Watts went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a triple. Freshman ace Jenna Caira pitched all nine innings for the Orange. She struck out nine batters and walked only three. Senior Nicole Miller put in a strong performance at first with 14 putouts and one assist.
Prior to the victory at Wednesday nights banquet, the Orange had four members named to the all-conference teams. Caira, Miller and senior Lindsay Wasek were awarded third-team honors, while senior Amy Kelley was named to the second team. Caira was also named the 2009 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year. She was only the four Syracuse rookie of the year and the first since 2006.
May 4, 2009
The Orange played its final four home games of the season over the weekend with doubleheaders against Colgate and Rutgers. Syracuse split both to finish the weekend 2-2. SU is now 30-20 overall and has secured the No. 4 seed for the BIG EAST Tournament which begins May 7. This is Syracuse's first 30-win season since 2006 and the first under third-year head coach Leigh Ross. The Orange will face fifth-seeded USF at 10 a.m. in Louisville's Ulmer Stadium.
On Friday the Orange hosted Colgate. Freshman Jenna Caira scattered four hits in six innings to help secure a 6-0 shutout. Senior Amy Kelley led the Orange with two hits in two at-bats, while sophmore Hallie Gibbs was 1-for-4 with a home run. Freshman Leah Porter hit her first career double and her classmate Gaby Torzilli had a two-RBI single.
Game two was a different story as the Orange suffered a 5-1 setback. Senior Jamie Kelling, Gibbs and senior Lindsay Wasek all finished 2-for-3. Gibbs and senior Nicole Miller each hit a double and freshman Stephanie Watts stole her third base of the day.
On Sunday, Syracuse hosted Rutgers on Senior Day. The team's five seniors and manager Keri Casas were honored in a pregame ceremony for their contributions to the team during the past four years.
In game one, Syracuse trailed for much of the game until Kelling hit her first career home run in the sixth to cut the Scarlet Knights lead in half. Caira held Rutgers without a run in the seventh to give the Orange one last chance to win the game. In the bottom half of the inning, Gibbs hit a walk-off two-RBI double to give SU a 3-2 come-from-behind victory.
The Orange took an early 1-0 lead in game two, but the Scarlet Knights managed to tally one run each in the fourth and the fifth and two in the sixth to secure a 4-2 triumph. Registering hits for the Orange were Watts, Kelling, Kelley and Miller, with runs coming from Watts and Kelling.
April 27, 2009
Syracuse softball had a tough week finishing with a 2-4 record. The Orange swept Siena in its final non-conference doubleheader of the season. However, the top two BIG EAST teams of DePaul and Notre Dame proved to be tough matchups for the Orange.
Siena
Syracuse shutout Siena by scores of 2-02 and 4-0 on Wednesday, April 22. Senior Amy Kelley led the Orange in game one going 2-for-3. SU's two runs came from freshman pinch runner Nicole Lamison and her classmate Lacey Kohl.
In game two, the Orange had a 4-0 lead heading into the fifth after scoring a run in the second and three more in the third. SU's final run came in the bottom of the sixth. Senior Nicole Miller was a perfect 2-for-2 with three runs, while Kohl ended 2-for-3 with three RBI and her first collegiate home run.
DePaul
The Orange faced its third nationally-ranked foe of the season on Saturday, April 25 when it faced No. 20/19 DePaul. In the 4-0 game one setback, senior Lindsay Wasek tallied SU's only hit. Freshman Jenna Caira pitched a complete game striking out a game-high nine batters.
In game two, Miller, Kohl and Wasek all registered hits for the Orange. Miller finished 2-for-3, while both Kohl and Wasek were 1-for-3. Wasek hit her second home run of the season to register account for SU's two RBI.
Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish proved to be another formidable foe for Syracuse on Sunday. Notre Dame earned a 4-0 victory in game one holding the Orange two only four hits before rallying for a 6-3 win in game two.
Caira and junior Brittany Gardner shared time in the circle in game one. The pair walked only two and Caira threw four strikeouts. Sophomore Rachel Helman was 2-for-3, with Miller and Kelley notching SU's two other hits.
In the second game, Kelley led the team with two hits in three at-bats. The Orange took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth, but the Fighting Irish responded with three runs each in the fifth and sixth to secure the win.
April 20, 2009
The Orange put in a strong performance on the field this week finishing 7-1, including 3-1 in BIG EAST play. The Orange swept Canisius, Cornell and Providence and upset No. 17/18 Louisville in game one of the doubleheader to extend its winning streak to eight games. UofL ended the streak, however, dealing the Orange a loss in game two.
Canisius
Senior Jamie Kelling led the Orange squad at the plate against the Golden Griffins. She finished the day 4-for-6 with three runs and three steals. Sophomore Angie Sagnelli pitched a complete game win in game one as the Orange came away with a 9-2 victory. Sagnelli improved to 5-1 on the season. Freshman ace Jenna Caira pitched game two for her second no-hitter of the season. She also secured coach Leigh Ross' 300th career win.
Cornell
Syracuse shut out Cornell, the Ivy League leader, in both games by scores of 3-0 and 8-0. Freshman Stephanie Watts and senior Nicole Miller were the two powerhouses for the Orange. Watts was 2-for-4 with three runs, two RBI and a home run. Miller went 2-for-5 with two runs, two RBI and a home run, as well.
Providence
Syracuse outhit the Friars 22-12, including 15-6 in game one, for its first BIG EAST road sweep of the season. SU won game one 11-1 and game two 5-3. Kelling led the team 4-for-8 with two steals and a double, while senior Amy Kelley went 3-for-5 with two runs and a three-run homer.
Louisville
Syracuse upset Louisville, 10-5, in game one for its first win against a nationally-ranked opponent since 2006. Sophomore Rachel Helman was a perfect 3-for-3 in the game with four RBI. Caira allowed zero earned runs and threw seven strikeouts in the circle. Despite suffering an 8-2 setback in game two, Miller finished the day a combined 3-for-6 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs.
April 13, 2009
The Orange went 2-2 this past week in BIG EAST play against St. John's and Georgetown. After suffering a tough 4-3 loss to St. John's in game one, the Orange rallied with a 7-1 victory in game two. Freshman pitcher Jenna Caira pitched a complete game walking none and striking out seven.Senior Jorden Rosen broke the game open with a three-run homer in the sixth. It washer first long ball of the season.
Freshman Stephanie Watts and senior Nicole Miller both finished game two 2-for-4. Miller had two RBI and two runs, while Watts scored one run.
The Orange went on to host Georgetown in a double header on Saturday, April 11. With the score tied 1-1 after the first, neither team managed to score another run until the top of the 12th. Caira pitched all 12 innings, throwing a career-high 16 strikeouts and allowing only three multi-hit innings by the Hoyas. It was the second-longest game in program history behind a 14-inning 6-5 triumph against Boston College in 2002.
Syracuse went on to secure a 5-2 victory in game two. Junior Brittany Gardner threw a career-high 11 strikeouts for her first double-digit strikeout game of her career. Watts and senior Jamie Kelling gave the Orange an early 2-0 lead. After hitting back-to-back singles and both stealing a base, sophomore Hallie Gibbs hit a two-RBI single. The Orange scored its final three runs in the bottom of the second courtesy of Watts, freshman Gaby Torzilli and senior Lindsay Wasek.
April 6, 2009
Head coach Leigh Ross' softball team continued its BIG EAST success with a 3-1 week with games against Connecticut and Villanova. The Saturday doublehead with USF was rained out and will not be rescheduled.
On Monday, March 30, the Orange traveled to Storrs, Conn. to take on the Huskies. Despite trailing 6-2 heading into the final inning, Syracuse scored nine runs in the top of the seventh for an 11-7 victory. It was the team's fourth come-from-behind win this season. Scoring runs in the seventh for the Orange were seniors Nicole Miller (2) and Lindsay Wasek, freshmen Kelly Saco (grand slam) and Nicole Lamison, senior Jamie Kelling, freshman Stephanie Watts, senior Jorden Rosen and freshman Gaby Torzilli.
On Sunday, April 5, Syracuse hosted Villanova. In game one, freshman hurler Jenna Caira threw her first collegiate no-hitter. It was only the third no-hitter in program history and the first since Courtney Mosch threw a no-hitter against Cornell in 2005. The Orange won 5-0 and Miller accounted for three of the team's five RBI.
In game two, Caira pitched three more hitless innings for a total of 10 consecutive innings without a hit. Watts hit a home run in SU's first at-bat of the game. Senior Amy Kelley and Miller would power two more home runs out of the park before the game was complete.
March 30, 2009
Syracuse continued BIG EAST play on Friday when it hosted Pittsburgh in its home opener at the SU Softball Stadium at Skytop. SU's Sunday doubleheader at Connecticut was postponed to Monday due to poor weather.
Head coach Leigh Ross guided the Orange to an 8-3 victory in game one and a 4-0 one-hit shutout in game two. Freshman Stephanie Watts, who was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll, was one of three players to register a multi-hit game. She was 2-for-2 with two RBI, a double and a steal. Senior shortstop Jamie Kelling finished the day 3-for-4 with two rus and a double, while senior catcher Amy Kelley was 2-for-4 and was responsible for five of the team's eight RBI.
In game two, freshman Jenna Caira led the Orange in the circle.She allowed only one hit and threw nine strikeouts in 22 at-bats. Watts, freshman Nicole Lamison, freshman Gaby Torzilli and senior Lindsay Wasek all scored runs for the Orange.
March 23, 2009
The Orange softball opened the BIG EAST Conference season splitting a doubleheader with Seton Hall on Saturday, March 21. Syracuse improved to 11-9 overall on the season.
In game one, freshman Stephanie Watts scored SU's lone run of the game in the top of the first. After being walked, she advanced to third on a sac bunt by senior Jamie Kelling, only to score on a mishandled throw by a Seton Hall leftfielder. The Pirates tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with a home run from Bennet. SHU scored the go-ahead run later in the inning with bases loaded. Kaelan Waldron scored on a left field single by Nicole Loewenstein. The Pirate squad scored its final three runs in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run homer by Brittany Schillizzi and a run by Shannon Pease for the 5-1 victory.
In game two, freshman ace Jenna Caira helped secure a 9-0 shutout allowing only four hits and throwing nine strikeouts. Freshman Kelly Saco put the Orange up 3-0 in the first with a three-run home run, her second collegiate home run. Watts then made it a 7-0 game when a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth to put the game out of reach for the Pirates. Freshman Lacey Kohl and Leah Porter scored SU's final two runs in the sixth to produce the final score.
March 16, 2009
After heading straight from California to Rock Hill, S.C., the Orange began preparing for the Winthrop/Adidas Invitational to be held March 13-15. Heavy rains on Friday, March 13 forced game officials to cancel games for both that day and the following with the hopes of playing a few games on Sunday.
The weather failed to improve and on Sunday the fields were deemed unplayable forcing officials to cancel the remaining games of the tournament.
March 9, 2009
It was a tough weekend for the Orange softball team as it went 1-4 in its west coast trip. Heading into the weekend, the Orange were tired for its best start in school history at 9-4. As it did in 2005, Cal State Fullerton prevented Syracuse from getting its best start in program history on Friday, March 6. The Orange lost to the Titans, 4-2.
Seniors Amy Kelley and Nicole Miller led the Orange against CSF. Kelley finished the day 2-for-2 with a double, while Miller was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
On Saturday, Syracuse began play in the Long Beach State Invitational. The Orange recorded its lone win against Longwood with a 4-0 shutout. Senior Jamie Kelling finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBI and a triple. Sophomore Hallie Gibbs and freshman Stephanie Watts were also forces at the plate. Both closed out the game 2-for-4 with Gibbs adding two RBI.
Sophomore ace Angie Sagnelli pitched the first four innings to improve to 4-0 on the season. Junior Brittany Gardner registered her third save throwing two strikeouts in 2.2 innings to finish the game.
Against #4/3 UCLA, the Orange suffered a tough 11-0 setback in five innings. The Bruins scored six of their 11 runs in the first innings and tacked on one each in the third and fourth, with the final three coming in the fifth. Senior Jorden Rosen had SU's only hit in the game in the bottom of the fifth for an infield single.
The Orange concluded play in the invitational against FIU and host Long Beach. Miller led the Orange in the 5-2 FIU loss going 1-for-3 with an RBI. Kelley, sophomore Rachel Helman and freshman Lacey Kohl also all finished the game 1-for-3.
LBSU was another team that wasted no time scoring two runs each in the first and second innings. Freshman Gaby Torzilli scored SU's only run against The Beach in the top of the seventh. She finished the game 2-for-2.
March 2, 2009
The Orange traveled to Orlando, Fla. for its second tournament of the 2009 season. The team finished with a 4-1 record in the UCF Invitational with wins against Maine, UCF, Eastern Michigan and Tennessee State. The Orange's only loss came to Stony Brook.
Syracuse began the tournament with a 3-1 victory against Maine and followed it up with a 3-2 win against host UCF. Freshman Stephanie Watts led the Orange in the two wins finishing 3-for-5 with three runs, an RBI and her fourth collegiate home run. Another top performer was senior Nicole Miller who ended the day 2-for-4 with her first home run of the season.
The Orange split day two at the invite with a 3-6 loss to Stony Brook, but a 6-3 win against Eastern Michigan. Sophomore Hallie Gibbs paced the Orange going 4-for-8 with four RBI, a double and a triple. Senior Jamie Kelling closed out the day 3-for-7 with two runs and an RBI. All four of Gibbs' RBI came against EMU as she accounted for four of SU's six RBI in the game, while Kelling extended her hitting streak to 11 straight games.
On the final day of the tournament, SU earned an 11-0 triumph against Tennessee State. Senior Lindsay Wasek put up her best performance of the season thus far going 2-for-3 with three rbi and her first home run of the season.
Junior Brittany Gardner pitched two complete games for the Orange over the weekend in addition to finished the final two innings against Maine. She now has a 3-2 record on the season. Freshman Jenna Caira pitched the first five innings against Maine to help the Orange to the win. She allowed only three hits and threw five strikeouts. Sophomore Angie Sagnelli pitched all five innings against TSU. Sagnelli allowed only two hits, threw four strikeouts and improved to 3-0 on the season.
February 16, 2009
The softball team competed in the College of Charleston Cougar Classic over the weekend and finished 3-2 after securing victories against host Charleston, Akron and Howard. The Orange slight setbacks to James Madison and East Tennessee State, finishing 2-3 and 0-1, respectively.
Syracuse opened the tournament with back-to-back wins. Senior catch Amy Kelley won the game against Charleston with a walkoff home run in the bottom of the seventh, while freshman Stephanie Watts scored the game-winning run later in the evening for a 4-1 victory against the Zips.
Junior Brittany Gardner pitched a complete game against the Cougars. She limited CofC to only three hits and allowed no multi-hit innnigs. Leading the Orange offensively was Kelley and senior Jamie Kelling who both finished 1-for-3. Against the Zips, freshman Jenna Caira pitched her first complete game for her second win of the season. She threw nine strikes and allowed three hits with 23 at-bats. Sophomore Hallie Gibbs was 2-for-3 with two RBI, while Watts was 1-for-2 with two runs.
On day two, the Orange suffered a 3-2 setback to James Madison, but rallied later in the day with an 8-2 triumph against Howard. Freshman Kelly Saco led the Orange charge against the bison going 2-for-3 with three RBI and her first collegiate home run. Kelley also hit a home run, her second of the weekend, and finished 1-for-2 with two runs. Watts and Kelling both finished 2-for-4 against Howard. Watts and sophomore Rachel Helman scored SU's two runs against the JMU Dukes.
The ETSU Buccaneers held off the Orange with a 1-0 victory on Sunday. Syracuse registered five hits in the game with Kelling going 2-for-3. Kelley was 1-for-2 with a double, while both senior Jorden Rosen and Gibbs finished the game 1-for-3.
February 9, 2009
The Syracuse softball team opened the 2009 season going 2-1 in a three-game series with the University of New Mexico. After suffering a 5-4 setback on Friday, February 6, the Orange recorded a 12-6 win against the Lobos on Saturday and a 9-8 win on Sunday.
In game one, freshmen Gaby Torzilli and Stephanie Watts hit their first collegiate home runs. Torzilli was 1-for 3 with one RBI, while Watts was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI. The game was 2-1 in favor of the Lobos in the bottom of the fifth when Lobo Senise Cox tripled collecting two RBI to bring the score to 4-1. The Orange answered in the seventh scoring three runs to tie the game, 4-4. Syracuse held UNM without a run in its turn on offense forcing an eighth inning. After three quick outs from the Orange, the Lobos scored the final run in the bottom of the eighth to end the game.
In game two, the Orange won 12-6 in come-from-behind fashion. The squad scored eight runs in the final two innings to secure the victory. Watts had another strong game going 3-for-4 with two RBI and one stolen base. Freshman Kelly Saco and sophomore Hallie Gibbs were both 3-for-4 with two RBI and one double piece. Torzilli was also 3-for-4 with a double, while senior Lindsay Wasek went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a triple.
Down 8-4 at the top of the sixth in game three, SU rallied with five runs in the final two innings for a 9-8 triumph. Watts registered her third home run in as many games while going 2-for-4 with three runs and two RBI. Senior Amy Kelley was 3-for-4 with two RBI and Gibbs went 2-for-4 and hit her second home run.
Freshman Jenna Caira pitched 12 innings and recorded her first collegiate win. Junior Brittany Gardner appeared in all three games, starting one and pitching eight innings.
