Syracuse Splits Doubleheader With Tar Heels
By Spencer Pierce
CitrusTV’s Softball Beat Reporter
It was a tale of two games for the Orange, as they split a doubleheader with the North Carolina Tar Heels today.
The Orange looked stellar in their first six innings of the day, as senior Toni Martin continued to impress. She started off the game with a sacrifice fly, giving the Orange a 1-0 advantage early. Kaia Oliver dominated the Tar Heels, striking out nine batters the length of the game. Martin hit her second home run of the season to extend the Orange lead to 2-0.
Last night vs. Notre Dame, Martin hit a three run homer. Though that may not sound special, that means Martin accounted for the first 5 runs of the Orange season. That sounds great, but also means that the rest of the team had trouble producing runs, which is not the way to win ball games.
Similar to last night’s game, Cuse was unable to end the game without some drama. A 2 RBI single for Taylor Greene in the bottom of the 7th inning tied the game for the Tar Heels, sending the game to extra innings.
A Carli Campbell single through the right side broke the tie in the 9th inning, which was the go ahead and eventual game winning RBI.
It would be wrong not to mention Kaia Oliver’s performance again. She finished with nine innings pitched, two earned runs, five walks, and nine strikeouts. Oliver solidifies her spot as the number two starter, which takes weight off of Alexa Romero’s shoulders. The Orange took the first game in a 3-2 victory.
For Romero, she would have loved for some pressure to be taken off her shoulders as her performance in the second game was less than Romero-esque. She gave up four hits, two earned runs and three walks in just 3 ⅓ innings.
As for the offense, nothing was clicking for the Orange as they failed to score a run all game. They left eight runners on base and struck out 12 times. In a 21 out game, Syracuse striking out 12 times just proves how cold they have been without the help of Toni Martin. North Carolina took game two of two, 4-0.
The Orange take on the Tar Heels for the rubber match tomorrow at 11 a.m.
swpierce@syr.edu | @swlp91
