Syracuse’s bats came alive Thursday in its 9-1 road victory over Canisius (14-11, 4-0 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) at Demske Sports Complex in Buffalo, New York. The eight-run differential was SU’s (15-19, 1-7 Atlantic Coast) biggest win since its season-opening 10-1 victory over Illinois-Chicago on Feb. 6.

After being held scoreless in the first inning, Syracuse scored in each of the remaining four. SU tallied eight hits and two home runs, while Jocelyn Cater pitched a complete game, allowing four hits while striking out eight.

After catcher Julie Wambold opened the scoring in the second with a solo shot, third baseman Danielle Chitkowski smacked a grand slam in the third to take a 5-0 lead.

In the next inning, shortstop Corinne Ozanne got her first of two RBIs on a run-scoring single. After a Sydney O’Hara walk, second baseman Sammy Fernandez scored on a wild pitch. Left fielder Rachel Burkhardt followed three batters later with a fielder’s choice, scoring pinch runner Kristina Kinsey.

Already up 8-0, Ozanne struck again in the fifth with an RBI double. In the bottom of the inning, Cater allowed a run to score on a wild pitch before getting the final outs.

Syracuse returns home this weekend for a three-game set with ACC foe Pittsburgh (26-14, 6-9). The series opens with a doubleheader at SU Softball Stadium on Saturday at 1 p.m.