Syracuse Splits Doubleheader to Open Bubly Invitational
By Tom Russo
CitrusTV Softball Beat Reporter
GAINESVILLE, FL. – Syracuse (3-7, 0-0 Atlantic Coast) played a pair of teams with a combined 1-14 record, but still only managed one win on the opening day of the Bubly Invitational at the University of Florida. The Orange was once again inconsistent across both games.
The morning matchup went as expected, as the Orange beat Illinois State (1-10, 0-0 Missouri Valley) 5-3.
Sophie Dandola had another strong outing for SU, recording all 21 outs for the Orange, while allowing only three Redbird runs.
Bryce Holmgren led the offense with two RBIs, one on a single and a second on a bases loaded walk. Gabby Teran had an RBI and scored a pair of runs in her strongest game of the season in the box score. One of the runs came by way of some heads-up baserunning, sneaking home while Alicia Hansen was caught in a rundown to score the first run of the game.
The afternoon matinee however could not have gone less according to plan.
Syracuse fell to a Florida A&M (1-7, 0-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic) team that entered the contest winless in seven games by a score of 10-2, in a run rule shortened game.
The combination of Peyton Schnackenberg, Logan Paul and Miranda Hearn allowed 10 runs to a Rattler squad that had scored a combined 13 runs in their first five games.
Meanwhile, the offense that played well in the first contest once again pulled a disappearing act in the late game.
A wild pitch followed by Toni Martin’s RBI single in the second inning accounted for all the Orange scoring.
Gabby Teran built on her strong performance in the first game with two more hits, while Neli Casares-Maher picked up two hits and a run scored on the day as well. Casares-Maher came into the hitting .217, while Teran may finally be finding her swing again after batting .125 through the first two weekends.
Syracuse will look to build greater offensive consistency with another doubleheader tomorrow, first matching up with undefeated #3 Florida (12-0, 0-0 Southeastern) at 1:30 p.m. before a rematch with Florida A&M at 6:30 p.m.
twrusso@syr.edu | @TomRusso24
