Junior Sammy Fernandez Breaks The Single-Season Hits Record

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Sammy Fernandez used a single-season record 68th hit to send senior Alyssa Dewes through home plate to clinch the 3-2 walk-off series-opening win for Syracuse (28-18, 8-10 ACC) over Virginia Tech (19-32, 5-17 ACC) on Friday afternoon at Skytop Softball Stadium.

Fernandez surpasses Lisaira Daniels for the team record in hits, who tallied 67 in both 2010 and 2011. The junior was 2-for-4 on the day with a run and an RBI.

Senior Sydney O'Hara was 2-for-3 on the day with an RBI. O'Hara (8-3) was strong from the circle, as she struck out four batters in 1.2 innings pitched. Freshman Alexa Romero tacked on five strikeouts in the first 5.1 innings, while allowing just two runs and two hits to the Hokies.

Redshirt junior Olivia Martinez came through for the Orange as a pinch hitter, finishing the game 1-for-1 with a double down the right field line. Dewes checked in to pinch run for Martinez, and was brought home with Fernandez's walk-off game-winning RBI single.

The Orange got on the board first in the second inning, as Faith Cain was walked to put a runner on. With two outs on the board, Rachel Burkhardt reached first base off an error to bring Cain home on the throw and give Syracuse the 1-0 lead.

SU struck again in the bottom of the third with two outs on the board once again. A single from Fernandez put a runner on the base paths, before an RBI single from O'Hara allowed Fernandez to make it home for the 2-0 lead.

The Hokies put a pair of runs on the board in the top of the fourth with a home run and an RBI sacrifice fly to tie the game, 2-2.

Syracuse held the game tied through 6.5 innings of play, before Fernandez took home plate and sent Dewes home for the game-winning run.

The Orange and Virginia Tech return to action at Skytop Softball Stadium tomorrow at 1 p.m. Tomorrow's game is the annual Bark in the Park event, where all dogs are welcome to attend.