Bats Go Silent Again as Orange Drop Game One in Auburn
By Anthony Vasquez | @Ant_Vasquez3
AUBURN, AL – When creating a recipe to win softball games, gathering only four hits and giving up five runs in the first inning won’t be included.
In its 6-2 loss to Bradley, the Orange did just that. Raegan Branon was another opposing pitcher credited with continuing a cold streak for the Syracuse bats. She tossed a complete game with no earned runs enroute to her second win of the season.
The only runs off of her were unearned as a Brave error opened the door for S.U. in the fourth.
Angel Jasso took advantage by ringing a double to get her team on the board. Neli Casares-Maher tacked on another after anther RBI double. Those were the only bright spots in a game where any sort of magic was hard to come by.
Outside of the hard-hitting pair, the bats mustered just one routine double. The lineup drew one walk but only struck out four times, meaning most of the balls put in play were the result of soft contact.
Either way, the offensive deficiencies put on display going back to last weekend is troubling. Two hits against a 6-5 mid-major team are not a great sight to see if you’re Shannon Doepking.
The bats were exposed even more when starting pitcher Lindsey Hendrix self-destructed in the first. She gave up hits to all five batters she faced, including two homers that plated all five runs.
Having seen enough, Doepking walked to the mound staring down a 5-0 hole in just a few minutes. Needing to calm things down, she called on ace Summer Clark who promptly shutdown the Braves’ lineup.
She was in the circle the rest of the game amassing eight Ks and giving up just two baserunners along the way. All she gave up was a measly unearned run credited to bad defense.
Clark will get the day off tomorrow before being tested against an 11-1 Auburn squad Sunday.
Before the ‘Cuse can look ahead, Delaware State still stands in the way tomorrow morning.
With two games left in this year’s non-conference slate, don’t be surprised if Shannon Doepking shakes up the lineup as she continues to find answers for an offense in hibernation.
