Syracuse Bats Silent Again in Blowout Loss to Cardinals

By Tom Russo

CitrusTV Softball Beat Reporter

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the fourth consecutive game, Syracuse (8-16, 0-2 Atlantic Coast) failed to register more than five hits.

The Orange mustered only two hits off the Cardinals’ starter as Louisville (19-7, 2-0 ACC) dominated in an 8-0 run rule victory, winning it in six.

Syracuse failed to reach base in three of the six innings they came to the plate, including both of the final two frames.

Louisville meanwhile couldn’t seem to turn the offense off, hammering Sophie Dandola for ten hits to score the eight runs.

After setting down the side in order in the first, Dandola crumbled in the second, allowing all nine Cardinals to come to the plate.  Louisville strung five consecutive hits together to open the inning, leading to three runs. Louisville would bring seven batters to the plate in the third, picking up three more hits and three more runs.

Megan Hensely was the opposite of Dandola, no-hitting the Orange through the first three and two-thirds innings of the game.

Alex Acevedo and Michala Maciolek provided the two hits, coming back-to-back in the top of the fourth.  However, both hits came with two outs, and Lailoni Mayfield ended the brief threat with a foul out to third.

Syracuse only managed five base runners overall, the other three coming on a pair of Gabby Teran walks and a Louisville error in the third.

From the bottom of the fourth on, Louisville was in complete control. Rebecca Chung would drive in two runs in the final three innings, including the walk-off run to end the game early. Chung finished with two hits and three RBIs.

Maddy Newman also had a great game at the plate for the Cardinals in the nine hole, driving in two runs with a two-run single to go with a walk on the day.

Meanwhile Hensley shut down Syracuse’s best hitters, retiring the final seven batters she faced, which included going through the top five in the Orange order.

Syracuse will now look to avoid the sweep tomorrow as they will play the final game of this three-game series in Louisville at noon.

twrusso@syr.eduǀ @TomRusso24