Syracuse Finishes Big Ten/ACC Challenge at 1-3 After Loss to Indiana
By Sam Lebowitz
CitrusTV Softball Beat Reporter
Durham, N.C. – Syracuse (3-4, 0-0 ACC) jumped out to an early lead against Indiana (3-6, 0-0 Big Ten) in the final game of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, but could not hold on in a 4-3 loss.
Hoosier third baseman Hannah Davis delivered the deciding blow, a line-drive home run in the top half of the seventh inning. It broke a 3-3 tie that once stood as a 3-0 Orange lead.
SU brought the bats out early against Indiana right-hander Emily Goodin. In the first inning, a Gabby Teran single and a Neli Casares-Maher double gave Rebecca Clyde a scoring opportunity with two runners in scoring position. Clyde, who leads the team in batting average and came into the final weekend’s matchup 6-for-12 in Durham, was given the start in the cleanup spot in the lineup by Shannon Doepking. Clyde delivered with a two-run single to right-center to put SU on top early.
Gabby Teran drove home the third Syracuse run with a two-out base hit in the second, scoring Jamie Gregg, who had previously singled and stole second. Teran and Gregg paced the Syracuse offense with two hits each.
But then, the Orange offense quieted down against Goodin. The senior would allow just two more hits the rest of the game. She threw only 95 pitches in the complete game victory, striking out six.
The Hoosier comeback started in the sixth inning against SU pitcher Alexa Romero. Romero had skated in and out of trouble all game, but had yet to allow IU to crack the run column. However, Indiana catcher Desriee Dufek had other plans. The freshman blasted a two-run home run to straightaway centerfield to cut the Syracuse lead to just a run. A single, a hit batter, and another single followed for Indiana before IU centerfielder Taylor Lambert lined a sacrifice fly to center to score the tying run.
A day removed from a 125-pitch, eight-inning complete game win over Indiana, Alexa Romero tossed 130 more against the Hoosiers in this game. She allowed 10 base hits and four runs on her ledger, but struck out seven Hoosiers and only walked two. Romero’s command has been an early-season issue for her, so a low walk total could be a step in the right direction.
The Orange will play next weekend in the Houston Hilton Plaza Invitation from Houston, Texas. They will play five games including Friday and Saturday doubleheaders. The action starts on Friday at 4:30 p.m.
salebowi@syr.edu | @samlebo14
