The Syracuse softball team went undefeated in five games at the Cathedral City Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., this weekend, continuing its hot start to the season. The Orange won all five games by one run.

Syracuse (12-2) beat Utah (6-11) 4-3 in eight innings in its opener Friday. In the bottom of the eighth, junior Kelly Saco was placed on second due to the international tiebreaker rule. She advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by junior Stephanie Watts and scored on a single by freshman Kealy McMullen. Junior Jenna Caira held Utah hitless in 3.1 innings of relief for the win.

The Orange upset No. 11 Hawaii (12-4) 3-2 later that night. SU scored two runs on five Hawaii errors in the top of the seventh inning to take a 3-1 lead. Hawaii cut the lead to one in the bottom half of the inning but did not score again. Caira tied a career-high with 16 strikeouts in the win.

The late-game magic continued Saturday against Fresno State (6-1). Junior Lacey Kohl’s two-run home run in the top of the seventh proved to be the difference in a 4-3 Orange win.

On Sunday, Syracuse defeated Nevada (3-12) 4-3 in its second eight-inning game of the tournament. After the Orange evened the score on a sacrifice fly by junior Lisaira Daniels in the bottom of the eighth, Saco drove in the game-winning run with a single. In its second game of the day, SU finished the tournament with a 2-1 win over Cal State Fullerton.

Syracuse travels to Gainesville, Fla., for the University of Florida Tournament this weekend.

Tennis

The Syracuse tennis team extended its regular season Big East winning streak to 18 games Saturday at Drumlins Tennis Center. The Orange swept West Virginia 7-0 to improve its record this season to 8-2 overall and 4-0 in conference.

Freshman Maddie Kobelt and junior co-captain Emily Harman picked up an 8-6 victory at the No. 1 doubles position. The pair is now 8-2 on the season in that spot. Senior co-captain Simone Kalhorn and junior Alessondra Parra won 8-2 at the No. 2 doubles position. Senior Jacquelynn Tang and freshman Aleah Marrow recorded SU’s only loss in the match, falling 8-3 in the third spot.

All six singles players won their matches against the Mountaineers as well. The singles play for SU was highlighted by Parra defeating WVU’s Melis Tanik at the No. 1 singles spot in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4.

Senior co-captain Christina Tan picked up her 85th career victory in a battle with Mary Chupa at the No. 3 position, winning 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. Syracuse’s No. 6 singles player, freshman Eva Raszkiewicz, dominated her opponent Catie Wickline, 6-0, 6-0.

The match was moved from Sunday to Saturday because of weather concerns.

SU returns to action March 6 against Temple. 

Compiled by The Daily Orange Sports staff

Published on February 27, 2011 at 12:00 pm