Softball Swept by Syracuse to Open BIG EAST Play

Akoua Lonergan hit a three-run homer on Saturday

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Syracuse scored three times in the bottom of the seventh inning to deny Seton Hall a split of a doubleheader on Saturday, winning 4-3 after taking game one, 14-4 in five innings on Saturday at Ivy Hill Park. The tough losses were doubly tough as they got the Pirates (12-14) started off in an 0-2 hole to start BIG EAST play. Syracuse improves to 13-13 and 2-0 in the league.

The games were originally scheduled to be played in Syracuse but were moved to Seton Hall’s field after heavy snow hit the Syracuse area this week. The Orange were considered the home team in each game.

Leading 3-0 after five innings and cruising, junior right-hander Jessica Jones (Tyler, Texas) allowed four in the final two innings. Alexis Switenko hit her second home run of the day (she homered game one) to make it 3-1 in the sixth, then Jones gave up consecutive doubles to Rachel Tilford and Tonye McCorkle to lead off the seventh, making it 3-2. After an infield hit by Chanel Roehner that put runners on first and second, Heather Kim doubled to center field. McCorkle scored easily, but Roehner was gunned down at the plate on a relay from centerfielder Akoua Lonergan (Allentown, Pa.) and shortstop Katie Pierce (Pittsfield, Mass.). Kim went to third on the play and came home with the winning run on a sacrifice fly to center by Kim Weinstein.

Jones fell to 2-6 with the loss. She gave up 12 hits and four runs in 6.2 innings while striking out two and walking two. Syracuse received an outstanding performance in relief by Erin Downey, who allowed just one hit and no runs in 4.2 innings to improve to 9-11, winning both games of the doubleheader.

Seton Hall scored two in the top of the first as Lonergan was hit by a pitch with one out and Pierce and Jenna Best (Medford, N.J.) each walked to load the bases. After a fielder’s choice forced Lonergan at home, junior Danielle Steinseifzer (Plano, Texas) singled up the middle to score Pierce and Best. The Pirates added a run in the third on a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded by freshman Kealan Waldron (Oak Park, Ill.). Steinseifzer and senior Caitlin White (Lincoln University, Pa.) each had two hits for the Pirates.

In game one, SHU’s offense picked up far too late as Syracuse scored twice in both the first and second innings, then added seven in the third and three in the fourth to take a 14-0 lead. Freshman Leah Menichetti (Jessup, Pa.) doubled home Waldron, who doubled herself, with one out. After White walked, Lonergan launched a three-run homer to right field, her second of the year.

Downey pitched all five innings for Syracuse, allowing four runs on four hits and striking out 10 Pirates. Seton Hall freshman Kim Schweitzer (Syracuse, N.Y.) fell to 6-5 with the loss, allowing six runs (three earned) on four hits in two innings.

Seton Hall travels to Pittsburgh on Sunday for a noon doubleheader against the Panthers.

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