Syracuse scores 9 runs in 4-inning mercy rule win over Delaware State

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Syracuse led by one with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the second, and Tessa Galipeau was up to bat. She fouled off the first pitch and then earned two balls. On a 2-1 count, Galipeau sent the pitch deep to right field and over the fence for her first ever grand slam with the Orange, giving them a 5-0 lead they would not concede.

In its second game of the Plainsman Invite, Syracuse (9-3) defeated Delaware State (0-6) in just four and half innings, imposing the mercy rule after leading 9-0 going into the bottom of the fifth. The Orange lost its first game of the weekend’s invitational, falling 6-2 to Bradley on Friday.

After pitching six innings and giving up only one run the night before, Summer Clark got the start on Saturday. Clark hasn’t lost a start yet this season, and the victory over Delaware State extended her win streak to six. Clark was successful from the start, striking out the Hornets’ first two batters on three pitches before a pop up to right field retired the side. In the bottom of the first inning Carli Campbell singled to shortstop, but three consecutive fly outs left the game scoreless.

But Syracuse took control in the bottom of the second. After Neli Casares-Maher flew out to center, Taylor Posner got to first after Delaware State’s Madison Burnite’s error at second base. Posner stole second and then advanced to third on an Angie Ramos ground out down the first base line. Then, Laila Alves walked, setting up runners on the corners. That allowed Paris Woods to lay down a bunt toward the pitcher’s circle, just out of reach of McKenzie Yurcaba, allowing Woods to safely reach first, moving Alves to second and scoring Posner to put the Orange up by two runs.

On the next play Campbell singled up the middle to get on first, and the bases were loaded. That’s when Galipeau hit her grand slam to right field to put the Orange up 5 runs. Immediately following that homer, Kelly Breen hit one of her own and Syracuse’s lead extended to six, forcing the Hornets to make a pitching change.

Clark picked up where she left off in the third inning, quickly retiring three straight batters. Casares-Maher kicked off the bottom of the third with a double that landed perfectly between the center and right fielders, but Posner and Ramos struck out swinging on consecutive at bats and Alves lined out to left field to retire the side.

Clark didn’t let up in the fourth. She completed her third 1-2-3 inning of the day on three consecutive ground outs by the Hornets. Meanwhile, the Orange’s offense picked up again in the bottom of the fourth. After Woods grounded out to the shortstop, two straight singles by Campbell and Galipeau left the Orange with runners on first and third. Breen struck out swinging on three pitches to give the Hornets two outs with two runners on base.

But just like the second inning, Syracuse made the most of a two out situation. Jasso singled to third base, advancing to second on a wild throw by Delaware State’s Jade King. Campbell scored on that play and Galipeau made her way to third. Then, Casares-Maher snuck a ball between the shortstop and third for a single, allowing Jasso and Galipeau to score and put the Orange up 9-0.

Syracuse put in graduate student Ariana Adams for Clark to close out the game and force the mercy rule. Syracuse recorded eleven hits on Saturday to Delaware State’s two. Galipeau led the team in RBIs with four after her game changing home run. The Orange close out the Plainsman Invite against Auburn on Sunday morning.