Alexa Romero walks 5 hitters in 4-2 loss to No. 13 Clemson Will Fudge | Staff Photographer Facebook Subscribe to our sports newsletter here. With runners on second and third base, Clemson’s Ansley Gilstrap worked a 3-1 count against Alexa Romero. On the fifth pitch of the at-bat, Romero’s pitch was outside the strike zone, putting Gilstrap on first and loading the bases. Not even four innings into the contest, Romero walked her fifth batter of the game — her second of the inning. Syracuse trailed 3-2, putting the graduate student in a tough spot. Romero was able to strikeout the Tigers’ top hitter, Valerie Cagle, swinging to end the inning. But the damage had already been done. Johnson’s full count walk had cost Romero and the Orange (19-21, 11-18 Atlantic Coast) as she later scored on an RBI single into right field by junior Cammy Pereira. SU’s offense, which has struggled all season long, had mustered two solo home runs in the first three innings, but Romero’s control issues on Friday ultimately cost Syracuse the first game of the four-game weekend series against No. 13 Clemson (34-8, 27-4), 4-2.