Syracuse comes up short in tight matchups against Akron, Jacksonville

Syracuse (3-4) lost two games Friday to open the Jacksonville University Tournament in Jacksonville, Florida. The Orange lost the first game to Akron (3-4), 2-1, and the second to host Jacksonville (3-5), 5-4, in eight innings.

Sydney O’Hara pitched a complete game in the first contest, allowing five hits and two runs in her first loss of the season. She also had six strikeouts, one walk and hit two batters.

Akron opened the scoring in the first inning when second baseman Kellie Roudabush scored on shortstop Chelsea Wildey’s single.

Syracuse answered in the bottom half of the first inning. Right fielder Maddi Doane came home when second baseman Julie Wambold reached on a fielder’s choice, evening the score at one.

The game remained tied until the fourth inning when O’Hara gave up the deciding run on a solo home run to third baseman Alyssa Nicholas. SU got a player to third base in the final inning but squandered the opportunity.

Junior Jocelyn Cater pitched the second game of the doubleheader, striking out 16 but giving up five runs, four earned, on five hits.

Jacksonville jumped out to a four-run lead with a run in the second and three in the third. Syracuse broke through in the fifth.

With the bases loaded, second baseman Sammy Fernandez reached on a fielder’s choice. Jacksonville got the first out at the plate but an error by catcher Charli Bradshaw allowed left fielder Alyssa Dewes to score.

SU struck again in the sixth on a two-run home run from third baseman Danielle Chitkowski and shortstop Corinne Ozanne homered to lead off the seventh, sending the game into extra innings.

In the bottom of the eighth, Cater gave up a leadoff single before getting the first out. With two on, Bradshaw reached on an Ozanne error, eventually allowing pitcher Victoria Brown to score the winning run.

On Saturday, the Orange play another doubleheader, first against Bethune-Cookman (2-5) before a rematch with Jacksonville.

Compiled by Jack Rose, staff writer, jlrose@syr.edu, and Liam Sullivan, staff writer, lpsull01@syr.edu.