Orange Win Final Regular Season Game

By James Groh

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse (31-18) weathered a heavy rain in route to winning its final game of the regular season against Cornell (13-28-1), 6-2. This win gave Syracuse its 31st victory and its best regular season record since 2011-2012 when the Orange won 43 games. It’s also the first time Syracuse has had back-to-back winning seasons in five years.

The scoring began in the bottom of the second. Right fielder Jessica Heese put Syracuse on the board first with solo home run to center. It’s her second career home run. She ended the day going two for three with one RBI.

Then in the bottom of the third, designated hitter and first baseman Faith Cain hit a RBI single to plate center fielder Toni Martin. It was Cain’s 39th RBI of the season, which is just three behind team leader and utility player Sydney O’Hara.

The game was played quickly. SU pitcher Alexa Romero can be credited with contributing to the games speed. She threw four strikeouts and allowed just two hits. After the game she said that the rain wasn’t a problem for her.

“It was raining, but once again not to let that affect my game at all,” she said. “So just to spin the ball and make sure [the defense] can get outs.”

The freshman pitcher ended her regular season with a 12-7 record and leads the team in strikeouts with 150.

The Orange tacked on its final four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Second baseman Alicia Hansen hit a two-run RBI single. Then it was a pair of wild pitches drove shortstop Sammy Fernandez and Hansen home.

Cornell wouldn’t be shutout, though. In the top of the fifth Madeline Avery hit a two- run RBI double to give the Big Red its only runs of the afternoon.

After the fifth inning concluded, the umpires called the game because of heavy rain.

Head coach Mike Bosch was pleased with how his team performed given the bad weather.

“It wasn’t an easy day to throw or easy day to play defense because of wetballs…but defensively we played well,” he said.

It was a game that meant more than just the end of the regular season for some. For seniors Sydney O’Hara and Alyssa Dewes, it was their last ever game at Skytop Softball Stadium. O’Hara, who is being considered for national player of the year, said that this game meant a lot to her.

“It was emotional because it was my last game at Skytop,” she said. “I’m excited to be done, but I’m not excited to be done. I mean obviously I love softball. It’s my life.”

However, it’s not the end of their careers as Orange softball players. Syracuse will travel to North Carolina on May 11th for the start ACC tournament.