SB : Orange losing streak reaches new school-record 8 games
The Syracuse softball team broke a school record this past weekend. It was an accomplishment the Orange would love to forget.
After starting the season 0-4 at the Getterman Classic last weekend, SU followed the poor performance with four more dreadful losses this past weekend at the Pirate Classic in Greenville, N.C.
The eight consecutive defeats mark the longest losing streak in the Orange’s eight-year softball history. It eclipsed the previous streak of six, which was set in 2001 and matched in 2005. Syracuse played only four of its six scheduled games last weekend due to rain Friday.
In the four losses, SU allowed 25 runs, 19 walks, and committed 10 errors. Those 10 errors proved decisive, as they led to 14 unearned runs.
‘There are no excuses for errors on routine plays,’ Syracuse head coach Leigh Ross said. ‘It’s frustrating because they have been taught the fundamentals, but they have not been executing them.’
The eight-game streak of futility was capped Sunday when Penn State freshman pitcher Jackie Hill threw a five-inning no-hitter. The Nittany Lions won, 8-0.
The Orange has had it rough throughout the past two tournaments, losing games in several different ways.
‘There is no one reason for our season struggles,’ Ross said. ‘It’s a combination of different things. One game it’s poor defense, the next game it’s poor pitching and another game it could be bad offense.’
Rain prevented the Orange from playing on Friday, but ultimately the extra rest proved ineffective.
The following morning, the Orange opened up the first game against Appalachian State. SU held the Mountaineers scoreless throughout the first two innings, but ultimately collapsed in the third. In the inning, Syracuse committed three crucial errors, which led to three unearned runs and a grand total of six runs.
The Mountaineers tacked on one more run in the fourth. After a 30-minute rain delay, the Orange rallied in the sixth and seventh, but could not recover as it lost, 7-2. In the end, the Orange tied its season high with five errors.
‘One error triggers fear into the other players,’ third baseman Hallie Gibbs said. ‘Once they see an error, they get worried about making plays, and mistakes follow.’
However, the Orange bounced back to compete in an afternoon thriller against East Carolina. Senior outfielders Chanel Roehner and Rachel Tilford accumulated two hits each during the game. Junior utility player Jorden Rosen drove in a critical RBI to sustain the offense. Freshman pitcher Angie Sagnelli pitched a complete game gem, only allowing two earned runs.
Despite trailing 3-1, Tilford proved clutch in the sixth as she singled up the middle and drove in two RBIs to tie the game. As a result, the game went into extra innings, with international rules being enforced. Both teams started their at-bats with runners on second base. Ultimately, the Pirates prevailed as the runner scored off a passed ball and won, 4-3.
The resilient performance encouraged several Orange players and coaches, including Tilford.
‘We never gave up and kept trying to move people around the bases,’ Tilford said. ‘The ECU game was exciting because we played well against one of the strongest teams.’
In its first game Sunday, the Orange had its rematch against Purdue. Tilford drove in two RBIs in the first inning to give SU the early 2-0 lead. However, sloppy fielding led to another collapse. Two crucial errors in the second inning led to five unearned runs. The Boilermakers tacked on an additional run during the following inning, and the Orange never rebounded, losing 6-2.
Despite the losses, the Orange remains focused and encouraged by the flashes of talent from its players. Ross was impressed with her team’s clutch plays and pitching potential. She simply wants them to stick to the basics, stop forcing plays and continue developing confidence in one another.
‘True character shows in these situations,’ Ross said. ‘I’m not going to allow the team to make excuses. We are going back to the Dome, and we are going to work harder.’
