May 12, 2005

It was the Pirates that struck first in the fourth inning as BIG EAST Player of the Year Laura Taylor delivered a lead off single followed by Lindsay Trottier. Kate DePaul then advanced both runners on a sacrifice bunt. Jenna Best then hit a shot down the left line that drove in both Jennifer Stowell (pinch running for Taylor) and Trottier. Syracuse Pitcher Erin Downey escaped the inning by striking out the next two batters.

Before the fourth inning, both teams struggled to get base runners as a combined 12 players struck out, Megan Meyer from Seton Hall stuck out seven and Erin Downey five through three innings.

It seemed as if Seton Hall would strike again as it loaded the bases causing a force play at the plate to prevent the run; but Kate DePaul hit a pop up to first base to end the inning.

The sixth inning seemed bleak for the Orange as both Alexis Switenko and Courtney Mosch went down swinging. But with two outs Shawna Norris took the perfect pitch as she drove it to deep center field clearing the fence for the home run to cut the Pirate lead to one run.

Syracuse rallied in the top of the seventh as Tiffany Robinson scored from second base when Chanel Roehner drove in the game tying run for double with two outs to play in the game.

In the bottom of the seventh inning it was Caitlin White who led off by drawing a walk against Downey. D’arcy Djakalovic then helped White advance on a sacrifice bunt and Laura Taylor singled to centerfield advancing White to third base. Lindsay Trottier then singled to center field to score Caitlin White for the game winning RBI.

Seton Hall pitcher Megan Meyer got the win (24-5) along with recording 15 strikeouts tying her career high along with tying a BIG EAST Championship single-game record (Kim Mizesko from Connecticut in 1992). Meyer went the distance in the contest throwing 106 pitches, 77 of those for strikes. Erin Downey for Syracuse falls to 16-10; throwing 112 pitches in the contest, 75 for strikes.

Seton Hall advances to play tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. against the winner of the Notre Dame/Villanova game. Syracuse win play the loser tomorrow at approximately 5:00 p.m. in the play-back bracket.

Seton Hall Improves their record to 31-13, Syracuse falls to 21-10.