Syracuse Pitching Falters Again on Cold-Shortened Saturday
By Tom Russo
CitrusTV Softball Beat Reporter
TULSA, Okla. – The cold weather must have followed Syracuse to Tulsa as today’s late-game meeting with Illinois was canceled due to cold weather.
But in the early game, it was the Syracuse pitching that was once again on ice.
Syracuse (5-11, 0-0 Atlantic Coast) fell 11-3 in six innings to Tulsa (11-7, 0-0 American Athletic) due to one bad inning, a pattern that has become increasingly frequent as of late.
Yesterday, Sophie Dandola had the unenviable task of following Alexa Romero’s no-hitter. She gave up five runs and five hits in two and two-thirds before it was time to be relieved.
Today, Dandola came out sharp, yielding only one run and three hits through the first four frames. Then the fifth inning reared its ugly head. She only recorded one out in the fifth before being lifted in favor of Romero with a runner on first.
Romero then walked the first four batters she faced before giving up a two-run single to blow a three-run lead.
Haley Meinen would steal home on an ill-advised throw to second by catcher Michala Maciolek before an RBI double capped a six-run fifth inning for the Golden Hurricane.
Peyton Schnackenberg replaced Romero for the sixth, looking to hold the deficit at 7-3. Instead, the freshman gave up a leadoff single and watched her defense commit its 21st error in 16 games.
After another single to load the bases, Schnackenberg issued SU’s sixth walk of the game to bring home another run. A sacrifice fly and a two-run double brought the game to a close an inning early.
The six-run fifth and four-run sixth were the sixth and seventh times this season Syracuse pitching has given up at least four runs in a single frame.
On the weekend, Syracuse pitchers issued 16 walks, bearing in mind one of the three games was Romero’s no-hitter in which she walked two batters.
This was also the second consecutive game the Orange managed to string four consecutive walks, suggesting a troubling trend.
Next up on the docket will be a trip to Fort Collins, Colorado, March 8th-10th. The Colorado State Classic will start on Friday with a 12:00 p.m. meeting with Wagner followed by a 2:30 p.m. matchup with Dayton.
twrusso@syr.edu ǀ @TomRusso24
