Syracuse’s bats silent in 2-1 loss to Notre Dame

Syracuse (18-15, 4-8 Atlantic Coast) lost to Notre Dame (24-12, 8-4), 2-1, on Saturday at Melissa Cook Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Alexa Romero started for the Orange, going six innings and giving up two runs on two hits. Unfortunately for the left-handed ace, Syracuse couldn’t give her any run support as the Irish’s Alexis Holloway improved her record to 15-8 on the year with a one-run complete game.

Syracuse appeared to get its offense going early in the first, advancing runners to second and third with no outs for its best hitter, Bryce Holmgren. But Holmgren popped out to third, and after a fielder’s choice, walk and groundout, Notre Dame escaped the inning unharmed. The next three half innings saw the minimum nine batters, as Romero was efficient on the mound and the Orange offense quieted.

Sammy Fernandez, who reached base three times, got all the way to third base in the third inning but was stranded there for the second time after a Lailoni Mayfield strikeout. The Irish notched its first baserunner in the third inning but didn’t threaten offensively until the fourth. That’s when Katie Marino hit a solo home run to left center, breaking the scoreless tie.

The score stayed that way until the top of the sixth, when Syracuse finally responded. A Neli Casares-Maher leadoff single was followed by pinch-hit double by Hannah Dossett, scoring the third baseman all the way from first.

The bottom half of the inning began auspiciously for SU, with Notre Dame’s first two batters being retired. But a walk and a stolen base gave the Irish a runner in scoring position, and UND didn’t waste its opportunity. Abby Sweet singled up the middle, driving in the go-ahead and game-winning run after the Orange went down quietly in the seventh.

Syracuse plays Notre Dame again on Sunday in a doubleheader, with first pitches scheduled for 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.