No. 9 Florida State sweeps outmatched Syracuse in 3-game series
Coming off a dominant 11-1 road win against Colgate on Thursday, Syracuse was swept in a three-game series at Florida State this weekend.
The Orange (20-22, 10-11 Atlantic Coast) lost both games of the doubleheader on Saturday to the No. 9 Seminoles (44-6, 21-3) by scores of 7-1 and 5-0 in games one and two, respectively. On Sunday, SU dropped the final game of the series 9-1 in six innings due to the eight-run rule.
In game one, Syracuse allowed two runs in the first four innings, but remained within striking distance. In the bottom of the fifth, though, Florida State broke the game open by scoring five runs.
Sophomore pitcher Lindsey Larkin came on in relief for freshman starter Christina Clermont after she failed to record an out in the inning and the Seminoles scored five runs. Larkin entered with the bases loaded, and the next batter singled, scoring two, pushing Florida State’s total to seven.
In the top of the seventh, Mary Dombrowski singled to score Sydney O’Hara for Syracuse’s only run in the game.
Clermont pitched four innings, and allowed seven runs on eight hits. In relief, Larkin was responsible for giving up just two hits and no runs.
In game two, freshman pitcher Sydney O’Hara got the starting nod and gave up two runs in the bottom of the first.
The Seminoles added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth, thanks to a Courtney Senas home run. Both teams went scoreless in the rest of the game as Florida State held on for a 5-0 win and a doubleheader sweep.
Syracuse left two runners on base in both the sixth and seventh innings and was unable to score.
O’Hara threw a complete game and allowed five runs on six hits. Offensively, O’Hara also batted 3-for-3 with three singles.
In the third game of the series, Florida State took another early lead by scoring two runs in the bottom of the first.
In the top of the third, Dombrowski doubled to lead off. Alyssa Dewes singled to the pitcher, advancing Dombrowski to third. A wild throw past the first baseman allowed Dombrowski to score the Orange’s only run of the game.
Florida State took a 6-1 lead by scoring four runs in the third. Then in the sixth, the Seminoles scored three runs to take an eight-run lead, effectively ending the game and clinching the three-game sweep.
O’Hara pitched 2 1/3 innings and allowed six runs on six hits. Clermont came on in relief and gave up three runs on three hits in 3 1/3 innings.
The Orange returns to action after its road trip on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. when it will play Niagara at home.
– compiled by staff writer Paul Schwedelson, pmschwed@syr.edu
Published on April 20, 2014 at 10:07 pm