Syracuse softball wins 4-of-5 in Central Florida tournament
The Syracuse softball team went 4-1 at the University of Central Florida Tournament this weekend to improve its record to 9-4 on the season. Syracuse defeated Maine, Central Florida, Eastern Michigan and Tennessee State, but fell to Stony Brook.Syracuse opened the tournament with a 3-1 win over Maine and a 3-2 victory over Central Florida on Friday night. Jamie Kelling’s RBI in the fourth inning gave Syracuse a 2-1 lead that winning pitcher Jenna Ciara wouldn’t relinquish against Maine. She pitched five effective innings and yielded three hits.Freshman Stephanie Watts jumpstarted Syracuse against Central Florida with a leadoff home run, and would later score on a wild pitch to give the Orange a 3-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning. Central Florida would tack on runs in the sixth and the seventh, but Brittany Gardner finished what she started to sweep the Friday contests. Gardner gave up one earned run and five hits in the complete-game win.Saturday, though, did not begin the way SU would have hoped. Stony Brook jumped out a 2-0 lead in the first inning and extended the lead to 3-0 in the top of the third. The Seawolves would tack on another run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to take a 6-1 lead after four and a half innings. Ciara took the loss after giving up six runs, only three earned, in five innings. Watts, Kelling and Amy Kelley each had an RBI for the Orange.Syracuse rebounded with a 6-3 win over Eastern Michigan. With the squads tied 3-3, Syracuse exploded for three runs in the fifth for the win. Senior Lindsey Wasek had an RBI single to give SU a 4-3 lead, and Watts and Hallie Gibbs drove in the last two runs. For the day, Gibbs went 4-for-8 with 4 RBIs.In its last match against Tennessee State Sunday, Syracuse picked up its largest win since 2007 with an 11-0 drubbing in five innings. Wasek led the way with three RBIs and a homerun. Sophomore pitcher Angie Sagnelli pitched all five innings for the win, only giving up two hits while fanning four batters.Syracuse travels to California to take on Cal State Fullerton Friday before participating in the Long Beach State Tournament with Longwood, UCLA, Florida International and Long Beach State over the weekend.
Tennis match moved
Today’s Syracuse tennis match against Army will take place in West Point, N.Y., instead of Drumlins Tennis Center, where it was originally scheduled. The match was moved due to inclement weather and is scheduled to take place at noon.
-Compiled by Matt Ehalt, Asst. Sports Editor
