Syracuse Drops Both Games of ACC/BIG10 Challenge Doubleheader

By: Adam Gotkin | @adam_gotkin

Citrus TV Softball Beat Reporter 

RALEIGH, NC – When neither the bats or pitching shows up, you know you’ll be in for a long day. That was the case for Syracuse Softball on day two of the ACC/BIG 10 challenge. For the Orange, today was a doubleheader. Game one was against Iowa. The Hawkeyes jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after the first inning and never looked back. Syracuse mustered only three hits through the first six innings and didn’t walk a single time. The Orange got two more baserunners on in the 7th but it was too little too late. Compare that to what Iowa did offensively; this game never had a chance of being close. The Hawkeyes got seven hits and walked eight times. The final of game one was a 7-0 win for Iowa. 

The Orange were hoping for a different result in game two, against Purdue who beat Syracuse yesterday. It was a rough start, as in the first inning Jackie Pengel allowed the first two runners on and both came in to score to give the Boilers a 2-0 lead after the first frame. Pengel settled down in the 2nd and at the start of the 3rd, retiring five in a row. But then Purdue rallied with two outs to bring home three runs. On the offensive end, there wasn’t much that changed from game one. Syracuse went nine up, nine down to start the game. The game continued down that path and Purdue won easily by a final score of 7-0.

Syracuse gave up 12 runs in the first game of this weekend, seven runs in game two and seven in game three. Last weekend, Syracuse didn’t give up more than six runs once. They’ll have to get back to strong pitching for this team to get back on track and get back into the win column. 

Up next, Syracuse has one more game in the ACC/BIG 10 challenge. Tomorrow at 10 a.m. the Orange take on the Iowa Hawkeyes again. For Syracuse, it’s a chance to finish strong in what has been a rough weekend. 

ajgotkin@syr.edu | @adam_gotkin