Nine Runs in the Fifth Leads Syracuse Past Virginia
By Samantha Rothman
Coming into its matchup with Syracuse (14-7, 3-1 Atlantic Coast), Virginia (8-18, 0-4 Atlantic Coast) was on a six-game losing streak and struggled in pitching. The Orange, on the other hand, had won five of its last six matchups, thanks to its work on the mound from ACC-Co Pitcher of the week Alexa Romero. Syracuse capitalized on Virginia’s problems on the mound and cruised to a 12-0 victory Friday night.
The Cavaliers started the game strong and did not allow a Syracuse runner to reach base in the first inning. However, just as it looked as though Virginia would overcome its pitching struggles, the Cavaliers quickly found themselves in a hole in the second.
After recording two strikeouts in the first, Erika Osherow let the first three runners on base in the second, prompting a conference on the mound. However, with bases loaded, Osherow would stay in the circle and give up another hit to Andrea Bombace, who drove in Gabby Teran on a sacrifice fly.
Osherow gave up two straight walks in the top of the second, and Alexa Romero would do the same in the bottom half of the inning. As Virginia reached base for the first time in the contest, it was time for another talk on the mound, now with the Syracuse staff. However, whereas Osherow gave up another hit after the discussion, Romero recorded three strikes to retire the last batter of the inning and keep the Cavaliers off the board.
The fourth inning felt like déjà vu for the Orange. Once again with bases loaded and no outs, Bombace brought home Teran with an RBI groundout. The duo’s second run of the game gave the Orange the 2-0 advantage. Syracuse extended its lead after Toni Martin scored on a fielding error.
Syracuse would continue the scoring in the fifth, and the Cavaliers would continue making errors. Alicia Hansen led the offensive outburst with the first run of the inning. Hansen crossed home after she stole second and advanced to third on two consecutive Virginia throwing errors. Neli Casares-Maher singled and drove in Bryce Holmgren after she reached base in her 43rd straight game, a Syracuse program record. Gabby Teran and Toni Martin followed, adding two more runs to take a 7-0 lead. However with no outs in the inning, Syracuse was not done yet. The Cavaliers recorded two more throwing errors, and the Orange added five more runs. Bombace scored on a muffed throw, while Carideo and Dossett both capitalized on a Virginia fielding error. Gabby Teran finished the inning with a double, and Bryce Holmgren and Sammy Fernandez crossed home to cap off the 12-0 win for the Orange. While Syracuse added nine runs in the fifth, Virginia tallied four errors and ended the night with six mistakes.
Romero sat in the dugout for thirty minutes as Syracuse took control of the inning, but she was not fazed by her time off the field. The sophomore came back out and recorded three straight outs to end the game in mercy-rule fashion in just five innings. Romero grabbed her third no-hitter of the season and her second in just three games.
The Orange looks to carry this momentum into game two of the weekend series against the Cavaliers tomorrow at 1 p.m.
