Orange Take One Game from Cardinals in ACC Doubleheader

Recap, photo is courtesy of Syracuse University

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Syracuse softball team split with ACC foe Louisville, dropping the first game 4-0 before coming back and snatching a 4-0 victory in the second game on Saturday afternoon at Ulmer Stadium. The win in the second game marked the first time since the 2013 season the Orange (25-20, 9-10 ACC) have defeated the Cardinals (31-10, 12-5 ACC).

Sophomore Sammy Fernandez tallied four hits over the course of two games, including consecutive lead-off hits in the opening at bats in each game. Her two hits apiece in each of the games place her on a seven-game hitting streak.

Kentucky native Hannah Dossett had a big showing at the plate in the second game, driving in three of the Orange's four runs off of a double to left field in the top of the third.

Sophomore AnnaMarie Gatti (11-10) earned the win in the circle in the latter game, tossing all seven
innings allowing no runs and just two Cardinal hits.

GAME 2
The top of the third inning proved to be the deciding factor, as the Orange racked up its four runs in two at bats to give 'Cuse the shutout victory.

The Orange set things up with two subsequent base hits up the middle by Fernandez and sophomore Maddi Doane, before a steal and an advance on the throw placed the duo at second and third base. Senior Corinne Ozanne joined the party in the next at bat with a single to third that loaded the bases for the Orange.

After a fly out that put two outs on the board, Dossett stepped up to the plate and sent one to deep left field for a three-RBI double that reeled in all three runners on base. Sophomore Rachel Burkhardt topped things off in the next at bat with a base hit up the middle that welcomed Dossett home to give Syracuse a four-run advantage off of five hits.

After the third inning, the Orange allowed the Cards little hope, holding the home team hitless until the bottom of the seventh in the third-to-last at bat. Until then, the only other Louisville hit came in the bottom of the second frame.

GAME 1
The Cardinals struck first in the bottom of the second, after a walk and a sacrifice bunt placed a runner at second. An RBI single through the right side in the next at bat by senior Brittany Sims sent the Cardinal at second home to make it a 1-0 ballgame.

Louisville answered again in the bottom of the fourth frame, racking up three more runs off of four hits. After a lead-off ground out, three base hits in a row sent a Cardinal at second home. With two outs on the board, Louisville pitcher Megan Hensley dropped one in right center field, plating two more runs for the home team, giving them a 4-0 advantage heading into the final three innings.

The score remained the same the rest of the way, as the Orange held Louisville to just two more hits, but couldn't convert on the offensive end.

Fernandez led the Orange with two hits, including a lead-off double to right center in the first at bat of the game. Senior Jocelyn Cater pitched a total of five innings, with Sydney O'Hara coming into the circle in the bottom of the fourth inning before Cater re-entered in the fifth to finish the game.

ON DECK
The Orange and the Cardinals match up one final time tomorrow in the series finale at noon, with the winner claiming the overall victory in the weekend series. The finale will be broadcast live on ESPN3.