Syracuse split its first two games of conference play Saturday, topping North Carolina 8-2 in extra innings before falling to the Tar Heels in the second game, 3-1.

Jocelyn Cater got the start for the Orange in the first game, lasting four innings in the circle. She gave up two runs on seven hits and struck out three while walking two. She was followed in relief by Sydney O’Hara, who threw the final four innings for the Orange, giving up no runs on three hits and striking out four while walking three.

The Orange bats were held quiet by UNC pitcher Kendra Lynch for most of the contest. Down 2-0 in the top of the sixth, Alyssa Dewes led off with a double to center field. In next at bat, Sammy Fernandez doubled to right-center, scoring Dewes and bringing the score to 2-1. A Corinne Ozanne RBI single later in the inning scored Fernandez, tying the game at two with one inning to play.

Both teams were held scoreless in the seventh, but the Orange brought out the bats in the eighth to take the victory from the Tar Heels.

Maddi Doane led off the inning with a double and Ozanne walked before O’Hara blasted a three-run home run over the center field fence to put the Orange ahead for good. The Orange poured on three more runs in the inning and O’Hara shut out the Tar Heels in the bottom half of the eighth to seal the game, 8-2.

In the second game of the afternoon, AnnaMarie Gatti got the start for Syracuse. The sophomore gave up three runs on just four hits in a complete game loss for the Orange. Only one of the runs was earned.

Lynch took the mound again for the Tar Heels and gave up just two hits in seven innings. She held the Orange scoreless until the sixth inning and only gave up one run in the contest.

Syracuse’s lone run came in the sixth on a pinch-hit home run to center field from Danielle Chitkowski. The home run was Chitkowski’s first of the season and her second hit of the day.

The Syracuse offense was silent otherwise, and after a couple of costly errors from the Orange fielders, UNC was able to finish off the Orange in a two-run win.

Syracuse will stay in the south for the rest of next week, taking on Savannah State on Tuesday and Charleston Southern on Wednesday. The Orange will then round out the week-long road trip with a two-day, three-game weekend against Florida State.

Published on March 12, 2016 at 7:08 pm

Contact Matt: mjfel100@syr.edu