Alexa Romero throws 1-hitter in return; SU splits doubleheader

Alexa Romero is back in the circle. After missing the last seven games with a left hand injury, Romero dominated Seattle with a complete game, one-hit shutout to propel Syracuse to a 7-0 win.

While the Orange dropped the second game of the Stillwater, Oklahoma doubleheader to No. 21 Oklahoma State, 8-0, Romero’s return adds important depth to a rotation that was lacking in her absence, Syracuse head coach Shannon Doepking said.

Romero struck out 13 batters in seven innings of work to earn her 10th career shutout, fifth-most in SU history. While Romero handled the Red Hawks all morning, shortstop Neli Caseras-Maher rocketed the Orange into the lead with a two-run homerun in the opening frame. Second basemen Gabby Teran doubled SU’s lead with a triple in the secon, and Toni Martin singled home a fifth run in the third. Martin then came around to score later in the inning, stealing home as Taylor Lane was thrown out attempting to steal second.

By the end of the third, SU led 7-0, and Romero needed no other run support. The Red Hawks’ only hit came off a Madison Cathcart single to shortstop.

In the second game, Sophie Dandola looked to bounce-back after allowing six earned runs in six innings of work against No. 3 Florida last Sunday. Dandola got through the first two innings without a run but was unable to finish the third.

Syracuse failed to grab the lead in the top of the second despite three hits in one inning, as Hannah Dossett was thrown out trying to score from second on a single to right field.

In the third, Dandola’s throwing error to first started the Oklahoma State barrage. All with two outs, OSU tallied four hits and was walked five times, tallying eight runs in total. Doepking turned to Miranda Hearn, but Hearn could not get any of the four batters she faced out. Logan Paul, SU’s fourth pitcher of the afternoon, finally ended the inning, but SU was down eight.

SU now travels to Tulsa, Oklahoma for the second day of softball. The Orange play Tulsa at 12:30 p.m. and Illinois at 4:30 p.m.