Stellar pitching, explosive offense carry Syracuse softball to doubleheader sweep of Rutgers

After avoiding a sweep against Seton Hall on Sunday, Syracuse (19-24, 7-9 Big East) traveled to Rutgers (25-21, 6-10) and swept a doubleheader with the Scarlet Knights on Wednesday.

Before the two-game set, the Orange sat one game behind RU in the Big East. But after sweeping Rutgers on Wednesday, SU leapfrogged the Scarlet Knights in the conference standings and now sits in sixth place, one game behind Georgetown.

Syracuse rode the arm of Stacy Kuwik to a 6-0 victory in game one. Kuwik threw seven innings, and only gave up three hits and one walk en route to improving her record to 12-9.

Shortstop Morgan Nandin set the tempo early with a first-inning RBI single that scored pinch runner Emily Thompson. Third baseman Corinne Ozanne doubled in right fielder Shirley Daniels in the third, then Daniels broke the game wide open with a three-run home run that plated Ashley Dimon and Riley Johnson in the fourth.

In game two, Syracuse’s offensive exploded in an 11-3 win.

Kuwik threw five more innings and gave up three runs on five hits, but that wouldn’t matter.

With the score tied at two, SU kicked into high gear. Dimon and Johnson doubled, Grant hit for three parts of the cycle, adding a single and triple to her first inning home run, and Nandin stayed hot with two hits, two RBIs, and a run scored.

Daniels added to her Big East leading steals total by swiping her 27th base of the season in game two. But she’s no longer perfect. Rutgers catcher Kaci Madden threw her out trying to steal in game one.

SU now travels to Tampa, Fla. for a three game series with South Florida. The Orange will look to continue climbing the Big East standings in a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. on Saturday, and a weekend cap at 11 a.m. on Sunday. South Florida is currently third in the Big East standings.