The Georgetown softball team’s doubleheader against Syracuse (31-11, 9-5 Big East) was cut short due to inclement weather in upstate New York on Tuesday but not before the Orange shut out the Hoyas (12-37, 5-9 Big East) in game one. Before the thunderstorms began, the Blue and Gray dropped the first game, 9-0, putting their hopes of a trip to the Big East tournament further out of reach.
Right-handed pitcher Mackensey Carter started in the circle for the Hoyas. The junior’s day began poorly, as she yielded three runs in the first inning before settling down and tossing two scoreless frames. The Syracuse offense got to Carter again in the fourth, though, as she allowed four runs on six more hits. Freshman pitcher Hannah Slovacek replaced Carter to start the next inning and kept the Orange silent in the fifth. Slovacek was unable to maintain dominance in the sixth, giving up two runs and putting the mercy rule into effect. The game ended after six innings.
The Georgetown offense did little to pick Carter or Slovacek up, managing only two hits the entire game off Syracuse’s right-handed ace, junior Jenna Caira.
“I give all the credit to [Caira],” Georgetown Head Coach Pat Conlan said. “She is an excellent pitcher. She kept us off balance all day.”
The Hoyas’ best opportunity to score came in the first inning, when they loaded the bases with two walks and a hit-by-pitch. However, the experienced Caira settled down, struck out sophomore third baseman Jordan Hansen to end the inning and didn’t give Georgetown another opportunity to score until the fifth inning.
Senior rightfielder Kristi Preuss hit her first triple of the year to open the inning, putting the Hoyas — who were already down seven — in a prime position to score. Sophomore centerfielder Callie Eward pinch-hit in hopes of driving Preuss in, but the senior was gunned down at the plate as Eward reached on a fielder’s choice.
Sophomore catcher Shikara Lowe’s third-inning single was the only other hit for the Blue and Gray on the day, but she was stranded at first. Lowe is currently second on the team with a .309 batting average and is tied for first in hits with 42.
The Hoyas are currently sitting in 10th place in the Big East. With only the top eight teams heading to Louisville for the tournament, the Blue and Gray have their work cut out for them in their final five games.
“We have five Big East games left. It is in our hands,” Conlan said. “The seventh and eighth seeds for the Big East Tournament are still wide open. We have an opportunity to play our way into the tournament.”
The Lady Hoyas travel to Providence this weekend to take on the Friars in a three-game series. Game one is set to start at noon tomorrow.
