Syracuse had a disappointing start to its nine-game road trip, when it lost the first three games. But the Orange bounced back to win five of the remaining six games and built momentum as it moves deeper into its season.

The Orange (10-14, 3-3 Atlantic Coast) kicked off the second half of the road trip by overcoming a six-run deficit in an eventual 7-6 win over Campbell (17-13, 3-0 Big South).

Behind sophomore shortstop Corinne Ozanne’s two home runs and three RBIs, Syracuse scored seven unanswered from the fourth inning on.

Freshman Sydney O’Hara pitched four shutout innings to collect her fifth win of the year. Freshman counterpart Alyssa Dewes hit the go-ahead home run, her first of the year, in the sixth inning to put SU ahead for good.

Against Appalachian State (9-15, 1-1 Southern), Syracuse was able to take a two-run lead into the fourth inning, but yielded eight consecutive runs before being blown out 10-4.

O’Hara put SU on the board early with a three-run home run after pitching one inning and allowing one run. Freshman pitcher Christina Clermont took the brunt of the damage, letting up six earned runs on six hits in two and one-thirds innings.

Six starters for the Orange went hitless against three different Mountaineer pitchers.

Syracuse returned to ACC action at Virginia (3-21, 1-10), which has struggled mightily in conference play.

O’Hara was at the center of the action again, propelling her team to a series-opening 8-0 win.

She pitched her fourth shutout of the year in five innings, allowing only one hit and striking out seven. At the dish she was a perfect three for three with a home run and three RBIs. All nine starters for the Orange reached base in the contest.

O’Hara started the next game for Syracuse as well and gave up one run in four innings in another lopsided affair — a 13-1 SU victory. She collected her second victory in as many days, and seventh of the season.

The Orange sent 11 batters to the plate in the top of the first inning and scored seven runs on five hits and three walks.

O’Hara, Dewes and junior outfielder Mary Dombrowski each collected three RBIs to take advantage of the four errors Virginia committed.

In its finale against Virginia, SU collected 17 hits to beat the Cavaliers 14-3.

O’Hara started the game, but sophomore Lindsay Larkin collected the win, her first of the season. Larkin yielded one run and one hit, inducing 10 groundouts and striking out two in four innings of work.

Senior first baseman Jasmine Watson hit two home runs and was one of three SU starters to go 3-for-5 in the game. Watson’s two home runs places her second all-time for home runs in program history.

The Orange hosts Georgia Tech on Saturday and Sunday for its first home games of the season.

compiled by Connor Grossman, staff writer, cgrossma@syr.edu

Published on March 16, 2014 at 11:21 pm