Syracuse splits Friday doubleheader

Without Syracuse’s star pitcher Alexa Romero (hand), Sophie Dandola starred against Illinois State, but the rest of the staff struggled to contain Florida A&M at the Bubly Invitational.

Syracuse (3-7) picked up its third win of the season with a 5-3 victory over Illinois State (1-11), but fell 10-2 to Florida A&M (1-5) on Friday in Gainesville, FL. The 10-2 result gave the Rattlers their first win of the season.

In the third inning against Illinois State, Alicia Hansen’s sacrifice bunt scored Gabby Teran from third. Small ball was a common theme throughout the day, as Syracuse tried to manufacture runs in unconventional ways as its bats were still heating up.

Hansen’s bunt made it 1-0, and though Illinois State tied it in the fourth, the Orange regained the lead with a Toni Martin RBI bunt in the top of the fifth. Martin later scored in the inning off a Teran single up the middle, and Bryce Holmgren added an RBI single to go up 4-1.

In the end, Syracuse held off a late rally and prevailed, 5-3. Dandola, who has been Syracuse’s most reliable pitcher thus far, threw all seven innings and allowed two earned runs.

To start the second game, pitchers Logan Paul and Peyton Schnackenberg each allowed two earned runs. In the 4-0 hole, Hannah Dossett and Neli Casares-Maher both doubled and scored in the second inning. Dossett and Casares-Maher represented the Orange’s lone runs in the second game.

Sophomore Miranda Hearn relieved Paul and had difficulty locating her pitches. She walked five batters and hit another in two innings of work. A&M scored six runs in the fifth inning to activate the mercy rule.

Syracuse remains in Gainesville for the rest of the weekend and will play another doubleheader — against No. 3 Florida and Florida A&M again — tomorrow.