The Syracuse softball team won four of its five games at the Lipton Invitational in Gainesville, Fla., over the weekend. After losing its opener to No. 3 Florida, the host team, the Orange won its next four games and held each of its opponents scoreless.

Syracuse (16-3) only managed three hits in its 2-0 loss to the Gators (19-0) on Friday. Junior pitcher Jenna Caira pitched a complete game in the loss. In its second game of the day, SU blanked Pacific (9-5) in a 4-0 win. Junior Kelly Saco scored twice and drove in two runs on a home run and a double.

SU blew out Gardner-Webb (3-10) 15-0 Saturday. The game ended in the fifth inning due to the mercy rule after junior Stephanie Watts’ second home run of the game. Watts went 3-for-8 with three RBI and three runs scored to lead the team’s 15-hit attack. Sophomore Stacy Kuwik allowed just one hit on the mound.

The Orange defeated North Dakota State (7-13) 3-0 in its second game Saturday. SU scored all three runs in the first inning. Juniors Lacey Kohl and Hallie Gibbs hit back-to-back home runs in the inning. Caira gave up two hits to earn the win.

In its final game Sunday, Syracuse shut out Valparaiso (7-9) in a 6-0 win. Gibbs went 3-for-4 with three RBI for the Orange. SU scored three runs in the second inning highlighted by an RBI triple by sophomore Ashley Dimon. Caira pitched a complete-game two-hitter for the win.

SU will participate in the Spring Break Invitational in Charlottesville, Va., this weekend to take on the host Virginia, Fordham and Princeton.

Tennis

Syracuse won its ninth match of the season against Temple on Sunday 6-1. The Orange moved to 9-2 on the season and has won eight of its past nine.

Emily Harman played at the No. 1 singles position for the first time this season and defeated Temple’s (4-5) Theresa Stangl in straight sets 6-2, 6-3. Harman and freshman Maddie Kobelt helped SU clinch the doubles point by defeating the Owls’ top pairing of Stangl and Christine Clermont 8-3. At the No. 1 doubles spot, Harman and Kobelt had their eighth win this season.

No. 2 singles player Alessondra Parra defeated Elyse Steiner in a closely contested match that took three sets. After winning the first set 6-2, Parra dropped the second set 2-6 before winning the third set 10-8. The match was the first time Parra has not played at the No. 1 singles position this season.

Kobelt, Simone Kalhorn and Aleah Marrow each won their matches in straight sets at the No. 3, 5 and 6 positions, respectively.

Co-captain Christina Tan fell short after winning the first set at the No. 4 singles position. Yana Mavrina took down Tan 3-6, 6-2, 10-2 to earn the Owls’ only point in the match.

— Compiled by The Daily Orange sports staff

 

Published on March 6, 2011 at 12:00 pm