Syracuse played two games in the Bubly Invitational in Gainesville, Florida on Saturday, but neither game required all seven innings as the Orange (4-8) split their third and fourth games of the weekend with Florida and Florida A&M.

Facing No. 3 Florida (16-0) in game one of the day, the Orange mustered just three hits. Gabby Teran and Alicia Hansen started the top of the first with back-to-back singles, but three consecutive unproductive outs left SU empty handed.

Those two runners left on base continued an early season trend for the Orange, unable to convert with runners in scoring position. Once Miranda Hearn faced her first batter in the bottom of the first, Florida had grabbed the lead on an Amanda Lorenz solo home run.

Syracuse managed just one hit in the final five innings as Florida expanded its lead with a run in the third and four more in the fourth. Once Hannah Adams and Alex Voss hit a double and triple back-to-back, the Gators had their walk-off, mercy-rule win, 8-0, in six innings.

In game two, Sophie Dandola shut down Florida A&M (1-10). She pitched a complete game shutout as the Orange needed just five innings to establish an eight-run lead and clinch the victory. SU lost 10-2 in five innings Friday night to the Rattlers, but with Dandola on the mound, Florida A&M tallied just two hits.

Facing weaker competition, SU’s bats came alive in the bottom of the first as Bryce Holmgren slammed a two-run home run to right field, driving in Hansen. The Orange then scored two runs during Alex Kaiser’s at-bat. Both Alex Acevedo and Hannah Dossett scored off an error and a wild pitch.

SU added four more runs in the second inning as Neli Casares-Maher hit an RBI double, then Acevedo singles her in. Toni Martin’s RBI double later in the inning gave SU an eight-run lead at the end of the second inning, which the Orange cruised to their fourth win of the season, 8-0.

The Gainesville tournament concludes Sunday at noon as the Orange take on Florida again.

Published on February 23, 2019 at 10:46 pm

Contact Anthony: amdabbun@syr.edu | @AnthonyDabbundo