Mayfield Still Scorching as the Orange Win Their Sixth of Seven
By Tom Russo
CitrusTV Softball Beat Reporter
BUFFALO, N.Y. – When the Orange returned home last week, their offense found a spark, averaging eight runs and nine hits per contest. The question became could SU keep things rolling when it made the two and a half hour trip west to Buffalo.
Orange fans got their answer when Syracuse (15-19, 4-5 Atlantic Coast) brought the bats in its 9-6 victory over Canisius (4-21, 2-2 Metro Atlantic Athletic). SU posted its second-highest hit total of the season, picking up 14 knocks off the Golden Griffins.
Lailoni Mayfield led the way as the Syracuse third baseman went 3-4 with three runs batted in and two runs scored. Her three hits included two singles, one of which drove in two runs, and an RBI double.
Mayfield is now 12 for her last 17 at-bats with at least two hits in all but one of her last six games. During this stretch, she has 10 RBIs, two doubles, a triple, and a grand slam, which was her first career home run. Mayfield is now hitting .303 on the season.
Gianna Carideo added a two-run single, while Gabby Teran drilled a two-run triple to headline the rest of the order. A wild pitch and a sacrifice fly accounted for the remaining two runs.
On the pitching side, Miranda Hearn had her best game of the year so far, getting the start and delivering four quality innings with six strikeouts and giving up only one earned run.
Peyton Schnackenberg made her first appearance since March 2nd in Tulsa and pitched two innings in relief without allowing a hit or a run. Logan Paul then entered the circle in the seventh for her first appearance in over a month, but unlike Schnackenberg, she did not leave her early season struggles behind.
Paul allowed a leadoff single before her defense failed her with an error and a botched fielder’s choice to load the bases with no outs. Three consecutive hits later and Canisius had cut the lead to 9-6.
Then, it was Alexa Romero time. The ace gave up a walk and reloading the bases, but managed to strike out the side to lock down the victory for her second save of the season.
The Orange will now take their offense down south for a three-game set at NC State (20-16, 2-7 Atlantic Coast) starting on Friday at 6:00 p.m.
twrusso@syr.edu ǀ @TomRusso24
