The Syracuse softball team that is off to its best start in program history was humbled this weekend, getting swept in a three-game set by South Florida. The Orange (24-8, 3-3 Big East) scored just four runs in the three games combined, losing 3-1, 7-3 and 4-0.

In the first game Saturday, USF pitcher Lindsey Richardson slowed down the SU bats early, keeping them off the scoreboard for the first two innings. That gave her offense time to score three runs in the bottom of the first, and the Syracuse offense never mustered a comeback. The offensive power outage and sloppy defense set a tone for the entire weekend for Syracuse.

The Bulls (22-15, 4-0) jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the second game, scoring through big blasts and errors on SU’s part. Syracuse’s offense came alive late in the game, scoring three runs, but the Orange left the bases loaded in the seventh inning.

Syracuse’s bats were silenced by USF pitcher Sara Nevins in Sunday’s finale, as Jenna Caira’s double in the seventh inning was the only hit SU could muster. The Orange’s shoddy defense continued Sunday, as SU made five errors in the first inning. This let the Bulls take a 4-0 lead. South Florida didn’t score again, but it didn’t matter with Nevins on the mound.

After going into the weekend at the top of the Big East with a 3-0 record, SU dropped seven spots to eighth with the sweep.

Tennis

The Syracuse women’s tennis team (14-6, 6-1 Big East) split its pair of matches this weekend, losing 1-6 to No. 49 William & Mary on Saturday before rebounding to defeat Old Dominion 6-1 on Sunday. Saturday’s loss was the Orange’s third loss against a ranked opponent this season. SU has yet to defeat a ranked team this season.

Aleah Marrow was the only player to pick up a victory against William & Mary. Marrow won in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 at the No. 6 singles position. Emily Harman and Simone Kalhorn each forced three sets but eventually lost their matches.

Maddie Kobelt and Harman lost their first match as the No. 32 ranked doubles team, losing in a tiebreaker 8-7 (5). The loss to 40th-ranked Anik Cepeda and Hope Johnson snapped the No. 1 SU doubles pair’s 10-game winning streak.

Harman and Kobelt responded with an 8-3 victory against the Monarchs on Sunday. Kobelt won her team-best 29th overall match, defeating Diana Ivanova 7-6, 7-6 at the No. 2 singles position.

No. 4 singles player Christina Tan won her match in convincing fashion, defeating Margarita Belyakova 6-1, 6-2. Kalhorn and Marrow each won their matches in straight sets at the No. 5 and 6 singles positions, respectively. Marrow was the only player to win each of her singles matches during the weekend road trip.

— Compiled by The Daily Orange Sports staff 

Published on April 3, 2011 at 12:00 pm