Orange Come up Short in Rubber Match against Cardinals

Recap, photo courtesy of Syracuse University

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Syracuse softball team came up short in the series finale against Louisville 6-2 on Sunday afternoon at Ulmer Stadium, capping a weekend series victory for the Cardinals on their Senior Day.

After the Orange (25-21, 9-11 ACC) held the Cardinals (32-10, 13-5 ACC) hitless for the first three innings, the Louisville bats got hot in the bottom of the fourth inning. A double to deep center field and a subsequent base hit to center sent the runner at second home for the first run of the game. A walk in the next at bat put two runners on, before senior Hailey Smith stepped up to the plate and sent one to left center field for a two-RBI double, making it a 3-0 ball game.

The Cards answered again in the bottom half of the fifth inning, after a lead-off base hit, a walk, and
a wild pitch placed runners in scoring position. With two outs on the board, Cardinal Brittany Sims stroked a two-RBI double to right center field, giving the home team a 5-0 advantage heading into the final two innings.

The Orange got on board in the next inning, as a lead-off walk by Maddi Doane, a base hit to left field by Corinne Ozanne, and a fielding error with Sydney O'Hara at bat loaded up the bases. With freshman Andrea Bombace at the plate, a fielder's choice play from second to third retired Ozanne, but gave Doane the opportunity to sneak home for the Orange's first run. After a fly out in the next at bat, freshman Alicia Hansen sent one to left center field for an RBI single that welcomed O'Hara to home plate to make it a 5-2 ball game.

Louisville topped it off in the bottom half, however, with a fielder's choice play that brought in the runner at third, giving the Cardinals a four-run advantage heading into the final inning.

Sammy Fernandez added a base hit through the left side in the final inning for the Orange, but it was too little, too late, as a strikeout in the final at bat sealed a 6-2 victory for the Cardinals.

Doane and Ozanne finished the day with two hits apiece, with Doane tallying her hits off of three at bats. Sophomore AnnaMarie Gatti pitched the first 3.1 innings before senior Jocelyn Cater stepped in and finished the last 2.2 frames. The duo each allowed three hits and three runs, while Gatti added two strikeouts.

The Orange have a busy week ahead of them, traveling to Albany first on Tuesday for a 4:30 p.m. matchup, before returning home for a Thursday doubleheader against Siena slated for 3 p.m. The games during the week precede next weekend's series against Boston College, including Senior Day on Sunday, May 1.

For all of the latest information on Syracuse softball, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Softball), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseSB), and Instagram (@cusepics & @cusesb).