Syracuse outlasts Winthrop, 6-5, in 11-inning tournament finale

Syracuse (3-2) beats Winthrop (1-4), 6-5, in an 11-inning thriller to close out the Black and Red Showcase on Sunday.

After shutting out Winthrop on Saturday night, the Orange nearly gave the game away in the second inning. Starting pitcher Sydney O’Hara gave up four runs to the Eagles, including a home run and hitting a batter.

AnneMarie Gatti replaced O’Hara in the circle in the top of the third. Bryce Holmgren added two runs on a double to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning, but the Eagles responded in the fifth with an unearned run after an Alicia Hansen error. Following the run, Alexa Romero came in for relief for Syracuse.

Romero had started on Friday in the Orange’s first game against Georgia, and she carried a three-run lead into the bottom of the seventh before blowing the lead and the game. But Sunday, she threw six and two-thirds of scoreless baseball, while her teammates mounted a furious comeback.

After Winthrop starter, Kiley Majette, walked O’Hara and gave up a single to Hannah Dossett, Holmgren knocked in her third RBI. Jessica Hesse then drove in two runs on a double to left field, to tie the game at 5-5. Romero and Majette one-upped each other with scoreless innings before Syracuse capitalized with runners in scoring position in the bottom of the 11th. Dossett singled to second base, sending Hansen home for the victory in extra innings.

The Orange head to Boca Raton, Florida, for the Florida Atlantic Tournament. Syracuse will play two more Florida tournaments after FAU. Its first home game will be on March 22 against Niagara University.