Syracuse falls to UNLV, beats Yale in first two games of Houston Hilton Plaza Invitational

Syracuse split its doubleheader on Friday against UNLV and Yale in the Houston Hilton Plaza Invitational in Houston, Texas. For the third time this season, SU lost its first game of the day and won its second.

In its first game, the Orange (6-4) fell to UNLV (9-3), 3-0, despite matching the Rebels in hits, 3-3. Starting in the circle for SU was Alexa Romero, who was named ACC co-pitcher of the week three days ago after pitching a perfect game and six scoreless innings against Sacramento State and Cal Poly, respectively.

The sophomore held the Rebels hitless for the first three innings before Janine Petmecky, UNLV’s starting pitcher, doubled down the right field line to drive in Jadelyn Yadao-Valdez. After tallying a hit in each of the first two innings, Syracuse managed just one baserunner over the next three innings. In the top of the sixth, two hit by pitches and a walk allowed the Orange to load the bases, but freshman Miranda Hearn flew out to center, ending the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, two walks and a single filled the bases for UNLV with one out. Mia Trejo doubled to center, driving in two runs and extending her team’s lead to three. SU mustered a two-out walk in the seventh, but Petmecky remained steady and forced Toni Martin to pop out to second base, ending the game.

In a complete game performance, Petmecky struck out seven and allowed three hits, while Romero struck out five in four and two-thirds innings. In relief, Hearn pitched one and one-third inning, allowing two runs.

Syracuse bounced back in its second game of the day by defeating Yale (0-1), 8-2, behind a two-hit, four-RBI performance from Bryce Holmgren. A dominant performance from SU’s offense saw eight different players register a hit, and five different players drive in at least one run. The Orange took care of business with runners on base, leaving just five on base compared to the Bulldogs’ six.

Syracuse jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Andrea Bombace reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Neli Casares-Maher. The Bulldogs evened the score in the third off an RBI-double by Annie Tarte. In the bottom of the inning, Holmgren recorded her first hit and RBI of the game, driving in Sammy Fernandez.

AnnaMarie Gatti started in the circle for SU, lasting five innings, striking out two and allowing one run on two hits. In relief, Baylee Douglass pitched two innings, giving up two hits and a run.

The Orange’s bats got busy in the fifth, starting with a leadoff solo home run from Martin. Three batters later, Holmgren belted a double to left-center, driving in two more runs. RBI from Gabby Teran and Hannah Dossett rounded out a five-run inning for Syracuse. Both teams tacked on a run in the sixth inning to make the score 8-2.

SU will resume play in the Houston Hilton Plaza Invitational tomorrow afternoon with games against The University of Texas at San Antonio and Houston at 12:30 and 5:30 p.m., respectively.