Alexis Switenko had not pitched a game since high school. Still, with starter Tara DiMaggio unable to make the first game of last night’s Syracuse softball doubleheader because of a class and Taylor Petersen no longer on the team, Switenko, a shortstop, eagerly took the mound.

Switenko took advantage of the opportunity and gave up two earned runs over five innings to propel the Orangewomen to a 13-3, five-inning win over Siena at Syracuse Softball Stadium. SU also won the second game, 5-3.

Syracuse head coach Mary Jo Firnbach declined to comment on the reason Petersen is no longer on the team, though she did say Petersen is off the team for the rest of the year. She said Switenko could see more action on the mound the rest of the way with Petersen out.

‘I was excited but not nervous,’ Switenko said. ‘It was kind of fun to be on the mound again.’

After Switenko surrendered two first-inning runs, the Orangewomen launched an offensive fury to ease Switenko into her new role. Second baseman Rachel Park went 4-for-4 in the first game with a home run and five RBIs. Park added two more hits in the second game to raise her team-leading batting average to .420. Freshman first baseman Jennifer Orpitelli went 4-for-7 with four RBIs in the doubleheader. Syracuse’s two home runs set a new team record of 27 for the season. Last year’s Orangewomen held the record of 25.

‘I felt pretty good in batting practice this week,’ Park said. ‘I’m seeing the ball really well right now.’

After the rare outburst in the first game, the Orangewomen’s offense remained quiet for the beginning of the second game. Trailing 3-0 entering the fifth inning, SU’s bats awoke for five runs over the final two innings. Freshman designated player Cassie Morales continued to thrive in clutch situations, driving in two runs with a fifth-inning single to draw SU within one. Outfielder Tanya Rose continued to break out of her sophomore slump, going 3-for-4 and driving in the tying run.

‘(Rose) has been coming around,’ Firnbach said. ‘She’s been off an on in spurts, but she had a great day.’

After DiMaggio finished class, she came in for Haley Larsen and pitched two innings of no-hit relief to earn the win.

‘We gave her a long time to warm up when she got here before going in,’ Firnbach said. ‘With her schedule she’s gotten used to it.’

Despite yesterday’s offense, Syracuse still relies too heavily on three players. Eleven of the Orangewomen’s 14 RBIs came from Rose, Park and Orpitelli. No other player on the team hits better than .265.

‘That’s the way it’s been all year,’ Firnbach said. ‘That’s the reason why we’re where we are. We’re not really thinking about it.’

The comeback win was critical for the Orangewomen heading into this weekend’s road trip to Connecticut and Boston College. SU must win its remaining eight games to qualify for the Big East tournament. The trip to BC is especially daunting, as the Eagles are 9-1 in the Big East.

‘We really needed the wins, especially coming back,’ Switenko said. ‘Hopefully, we can pull through and get to 12 Big East wins and the tournament.’

Published on April 24, 2003 at 12:00 pm