Syracuse Softball Bats Go Silent In 6-0 Loss to UNC
By Nate Cunningham | @N_cunning_0
Chappel Hill, NC – After a split doubleheader yesterday, Syracuse softball had hope that they could win another series in ACC play. The issue, yesterday the Orange were able to put the ball into play, today SU was held to just 2 hits in a 6-0 loss to UNC.
Through the first 3 innings, with the exception of a Tar Heels Solo home run, both teams combined for just 2 hits and 5 strikeouts. But then the bottom of the 4th happened and the game went downhill fast. Abby Settlemyre started the inning off with a triple and the Orange’s downfall was on the Horizon. Back-to-back-to-back walks followed which scored another run making it 2-0 for the Tar Heels and that saw the end of the day for SU Starter Lindsey Hendrix.
It wasn’t all bad news for the Orange though as one of the Positives from this season came to take over the mound. Freshman Madison Knight came into the game with bases loaded with one out, and was asked to get the Orange out of the jam; that is exactly what she did. A line out and a strikeout limited the damage to just 2 runs in the inning.
Although Knight worked through one jam, she would have to work through 2 more. In the Bottom of the 5th, after a single and 2 walks, she saw herself in the same position as she was in during the 4th; bases loaded, one out. But it was deja vu for the freshman as she would get out of the inning with only one run given up and stranding 3. The bottom of the 6th looked the same, 3 singles and 2 stolen bases lead to 2 more UNC runs and the final nails in the coffin for Syracuse Softball.
On Wednesday, the Orange will head down to Binghamton to take on the Bearcats in a doubleheader. Game 1 is at 2:30 and game 2 is at 4:30.