Syracuse continue to fall in the ACC after a 8-3 loss to Pitt
By Nathaniel Cunning | @n_cunning_0
With two weeks left in the regular season, Pittsburgh was the last non-ranked conference opponent Syracuse had on its schedule. The Orange sat at just 4-11 in ACC play and one spot out of the conference tournament. However a cruising 8-3 loss in game one against the Panthers pushed the orange to the second-worst record in the ACC.
The first 4 innings were almost mirror images of each other. A single for both squads in the first that didn’t result in any action and a quick outing from both starters in the second.
Syracuse’s top-of-the-lineup then started the third with back to back to back singles driving in the first run of the game. Pittsburgh would respond with the same. Three straight singles saw the game even up again after three.
The Orange put on a valiant 2-out effort in the top of the fourth to no avail and the Panthers pounced on the opportunity. Two more singles and a stolen bag saw Pitt take its first lead of the game.
It wouldn’t last long as SU would bounce back into the lead thanks to another 2 singles and Angel Jasso’s speed. However afterwards, things would flip upside down.
Syracuse starting pitcher Madison Knight was taken out of the game after 4 innings with only 2 runs and more importantly no walks. To take her place in the circle was Purdue Transfer Julianna Verni. The Junior walked the first batter she saw and allowed a wild pitch. 2 batters later she would walk another and they would steal second. Pitt had runners on second and third, 1 down. Amanda Rodriguez stepped to the plate and wouldn’t miss this opportunity with a single to the left-center scoring both.
A one-run deficit for SU isn’t the end of the world but Pittsburgh would take care of business in the sixth. Two more walks to start the sixth allowed Pitts’ Kat Rodriguez to bring in another. Then Cami Compson put the game out of reach. After seeing just one pitch, She blasted a home run to straightaway center that cleared the batter’s eye for her 11 long balls of the season and a 5-run advantage.
Being down five isn’t great but Syracuse put up 8 runs against Seton Hall in the seventh last weekend. However this time, a double play to start the inning sucked the life out of an already defeated Syracuse squad.
The Orange can bounce back tomorrow with a must-win game against the Panthers with the first pitch at 3.
