Syracuse Softball Splits Doubleheader Against North Carolina

By: Adam Gotkin | @adam_gotkin

With now under a month to go in the season, every game is important for Syracuse Softball. Heading into this weekend’s series at North Carolina, the ‘Cuse were out of the ACC tournament, in 11th place. The top ten teams make the tournament at the end of the year. The doubleheader started out pretty well for the Orange.

In just the 2nd inning of game one, Rebecca Clyde hit an RBI double to put the Orange in front 1-0. Syracuse was 9-1 after scoring first coming into the game. Things turned downhill though at the bottom of the 2nd. UNC took the lead soon after on a little league home run. The Tar Heels added another run in the 2nd and extended their lead in the 3rd inning with two more runs. The Syracuse offense bounced back in the top of the 6th inning with four runs. A Laila Alves two-RBI double and Taylor Posner two-run home run. But it was too little too late and the Orange dropped game one, 7-5

Game two started out similarly. With Madison Knight in the circle, Syracuse jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning and was able to hold on until the bottom of the 3rd when North Carolina played small ball to score four runs. Things weren’t looking too good for Syracuse. Gabby Lantier scored on an error by the UNC catcher to make it a two-run game in the 4th. Then, with the game on the line and two outs in the top of the 7th inning, the pitcher Madison Knight came up with the biggest hit of her college career and hit a three-run homer to give Syracuse the lead. Knight closed out the game with help from Lindsey Hendrix to give Syracuse the 5-4 victory.

The rubber match of the series is today at 2 p.m.

ajgotkin@syr.edu | @adam_gotkin