Syracuse struggles to score again, falls twice to Notre Dame

Syracuse (18-17, 4-10 Atlantic Coast) dropped both games of its doubleheader against Notre Dame (26-12, 10-4) on Sunday in South Bend, Indiana. The Orange was blown out, 8-0, in six innings in the first game, before suffering a 5-1 loss in game two. SU has now lost eight straight games in the ACC after starting 4-2.

The Fighting Irish were the first to get on the board in game one when Sara White hit a two-out, three-run home run in the bottom of the first. In the third, Syracuse gave itself a chance to even the score when two singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases, but Alicia Hansen popped out to end the inning. In the fourth, UND added to its lead after Hannah Dossett mishandled a ground ball, allowing Abby Sweet to come home from third base.

Starting in the circle for the second-straight game was Alexa Romero, who, after a stellar two-hit outing on Friday, gave up three runs in the first before being replaced by AnnaMarie Gatti in the second. Gatti remained in the circle for the rest of the game, allowing five runs, three of which were unearned.

After the third inning, SU’s bats quieted while the Fighting Irish’s stayed hot. In the final three innings, Neli Casares-Maher had the only hit for Syracuse, and UND added five more runs to gain an 8-0 advantage. Despite the size of UND’s lead, the Fighting Irish only outhit the Orange nine to five. All five of SU’s runners were left on base.

Having used Romero and Gatti in the first game, SU turned to Miranda Hearn to make her second start of the season in game two of the doubleheader. The freshman struck out three of her first four batters and held the Fighting Irish scoreless through two innings.

After scoring one run in the last two games, SU’s bats woke up at the start of game two. Sammy Fernandez began the game with her 206th career hit, tying Tanya Rose for the program record. Three batters later, Casares-Maher drove in Fernandez with a sacrifice fly, giving the Orange a one-run lead.

SU held its lead until the third inning, when UND tallied two runs with consecutive hits to take the lead. Two innings later, what was a close game quickly turned into another Notre Dame hitting clinic, when Katie Marino doubled to drive in another run and Sweet launched a two-run long ball, giving ND a 5-1 lead.

The Orange had a chance to come back with two outs in the top of the seventh, when Gabby Teran, the only SU player with more than one home run this year, came to the plate with the bases loaded. Teran made solid contact and lined the ball to left field, but it was met by Cait Brooks, who caught it to make the final out.

Syracuse will resume play on Wednesday when it travels to Siena for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. in Loudonville, New York.