Faith Cain records third-straight multi-hit game in 8-1 victory over Binghamton

Whether it be “Fly Me To The Moon” by Frank Sinatra, “The Recipe” by Kodak Black, or “What Dreams Are Made Of” by Hilary Duff, Syracuse walk-up songs vary. No song, however, is as boisterous as Faith Cain’s selection.

“AAAAAAHHHH, tear it up, Lemme see you tear it up,” booms through the speakers. “All across the board we gon’ tear it up. We gon’ bounce it till the beat cut off.”

“Yes,” Cain said when asked if “Tear It Up” by Yung Wun is meant to intimidate pitchers. “I love my walk-up song.”

In Syracuse’s last three games, Cain has proved that opposing pitchers should be concerned when she is at the plate, and not for the rambunctious rap lines that come before she steps foot in the batter’s box. Cain hit safely in the five-straight games leading up Tuesday, including two consecutive multi-hit games.

Cain continued her hot streak at the plate, tallying two hits and two RBI to lead Syracuse (27-18, 8-11 Atlantic Coast) over Binghamton (11-21, 4-7 America East), 8-1, for the Orange’s seventh-straight victory, which have all come at Skytop Softball Stadium. After recording five hits in her first 18 appearances this season, Cain has been at the center of SU’s newfound offensive success which has helped the Orange clinch a spot in the ACC Tournament on Sunday.

For the second-straight game, Alexa Romero struck out the side in the top of the first inning, and the Orange scored four runs in the bottom of the inning. Cain’s first plate appearance came with the bases loaded after two walks and a hit by pitch from Binghamton starting pitcher Rayn Gibson. Cain lined a double to right field, giving the Orange its first runs of the game.

When the ball shot off Cain’s bat, it looked as if the senior would be celebrating her first home run of the season. It fell just short, though, hitting the top of the right field wall. After crushing six long balls last season, the second-highest mark on the team, Cain has struggled to send the ball deep this year. She had just two extra base hits on the season before Tuesday’s game.

“I was hoping it was out, I haven’t had a really solid hit in a while,” Cain said. “It was nice. I just wish it would’ve gone over.”

Cain’s two-run double sparked two more first-inning runs from the Orange. Michala Maciolek eventually drove in Cain with a single up the middle to give SU an early four-run lead. Once Binghamton relieved Gibson with Makenzie Goluba after the first inning, Syracuse’s hitters struggled to adjust.

In the third, Cain led off the inning with a line drive up the middle. It was her second hard-hit ball of the day, something she has constantly produced during her now six-game hit streak. Cain’s recent consistency can be credited to her stellar work ethic, shortstop Sammy Fernandez said.

“During the game, me and Hannah (Dossett) looked at each other and said, ‘we love when Faith does good,’” Fernandez said. “She’s probably the hardest worker on this team. I’ll be walking through Manley and she’ll be in the cage working. It’s just great to see her succeed on the field.”

Although Cain failed to add another hit in her final two plate appearances, she posted two quality at-bats. Down two strikes in the fourth, Cain fouled off a pitch to keep the at-bat alive. The next pitch, Bearcat pitcher Rozlyn Price pelted Cain in the arm to load the bases. During her final at-bat in the fifth, the Omaha, Nebraska, native drilled the ball to third base, where Kate Richard made a difficult play to gather and tag the baserunner to end the inning.

Although Cain’s start to the season did not go as expected, SU head coach Mike Bosch said, the senior is rounding into form at the right time. Her recent stretch boosted her batting average to .350, the second-highest mark on the team.

“She’s been sharp at the plate, hitting pitches that are hittable, stepping up in situations, handling the moment,” Bosch said. “That’s really big because we’ll need her the next couple of weeks.”