KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Feb. 26, 2016)-The Morgan State softball team dropped its first two contests of the Citrus Classic on Friday, falling to Syracuse 11-2 and Charlotte by a score of 8-0 in six innings at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World.
 
In the game against Syracuse, the Lady Bears scored two runs on three hits, but committed three errors. The Orange finished the game scoring 11 runs on 19 hits and had no errors.
 
Morgan State was held to just two hits against Charlotte. Briana Jones and Amber Arlinghaus both went 1-for-2 at the plate to record the Lady Bears' two hits.
 
The Lady Bears fell to 1-6 on the season with the losses. Morgan State will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 27, when the take on Bryant at 1:15 p.m., before facing Fordham at 5:45 p.m.
 
Game 1
 
The Syracuse Orange (5-5) got on board early against the Lady Bears, as three base hits in a row opened the game for 'Cuse, sending lead-off batter Rachel Burkhardt to home plate with no outs. Sammy Fernandez met home plate in the top of the first as well, after a groundout to second guided the sophomore to home plate to make it an early 2-0 advantage for the Orange.
 
Morgan State answered with a run by Damali Young off of an Audrianna Alvarez walk with bases loaded in the bottom of the first, but that's as close as the Lady Bears would get. Both squads proceeded to hold each other scoreless for two innings, until a triple by Alyssa Dewes sent freshman Alicia Hansen on first successfully home to make it a 3-1 advantage for 'Cuse.
 
The Lady Bears attempted to come within reach of the Orange off of a Kimberly Fontaine homer to left field in the bottom of the fourth to make it a one-run game, 3-2. Syracuse, however, answered in the top of the fifth inning, with back-to-back doubles from Fernandez and Ozanne, with the latter double bringing Fernandez home and giving Syracuse a 4-2 lead. Two at bats later, another double by Sydney O'Hara to center field welcomed pinch runner Aliyah Wade home.
 
The Orange added two more runs in the top of the sixth, as Ozanne registered her second double of the game with bases loaded that brought in runners Dewes and Kelsey Johnson to make it 7-2. Syracuse sealed the deal in the final inning, as Hansen successfully made it to home plate from third off of an error by the catcher. Fresh off of Johnson stealing second base, Dewes jacked one out of the park right down the left field line, taking Johnson with her to make it a 10-2 game. Ozanne capped the victory with her third double of the game with two outs, sending Fernandez to home plate from first and finalizing an 11-2 victory.
 
Game 2
 
Charlotte pitcher Haley Wiseman, who recorded a career-best 15 strikeouts, started the game putting two runners on via a walk and hit by pitch, but proceeded to allow one ball put into play across the next four innings. She came just three punchouts away from tying the single-game strikeout record (set in 2013 by Katie Watkins), and carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning before back-to-back bunt singles spoiled the chance.
 
Charlotte (11-0), which is a game away from tying the school's best win streak and best start, both set in 2007, worked quickly in the nightcap, plating two runs in the first inning. Emma Ocker took a five-pitch walk and moved to second on a groundout from Haley Pace. She plated her first of three runs of the contest when Grace Beatty singled her home. After a stolen base, wild pitch, and passed ball, Beatty too crossed home.
 
The trio was back to work in the third inning, when Ocker cracked a triple mere inches from the center field fence to begin the frame. Pace brought her in on a single through the right side, and then stole second. Beatty followed up with a single of her own, this time to left field, and then Kiersten Berrier bunt singled her way on to load the bases for Courtney Carroll.
 
The senior worked the count before finding her pitch, connecting on a perfectly placed ball down third base line to bring both Pace and Beatty home. Carroll then scored two batters later on a right side single from Bailey Rhoney.
 
Charlotte scored its final two runs necessary for the run rule victory in the bottom of the sixth, when Becca Shipper and Ocker both reached base and the dynamic duo of Pace and Beatty delivered them home on a double and single.
 
The Syracuse and Charlotte media relations departments contributed to this release.