Syracuse softball beats Winthrop 8-7 in extra innings in the finale at the Gamecock Invitational

By: Nick Zuppe | @nickzuppe

COLUMBIA, S.C. – After winning both games yesterday, Syracuse softball (3-2, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) takes down Winthrop (0-3, 0-0 0-0 Big South Conference) 8-7 in eight innings. The win marks the first extra-innings victory for SU since a 2-1 defeat of Colgate on April 10, 2024. So, how did it get to extras?

In the early going, it didn’t look promising for the Orange: down 5-0 going to the top of the fourth, until a two-out three-run home run from sophomore Kaimi Tulua made it a 5-3 game. SU has now blasted a long ball in three of its last four games, and it was just the second career home run for Tulua. 

SU would then go on to score two runs in back-to-back innings, and things got all tied up at seven in the sixth inning when third baseman Mijilia Seaton grounded out that brought in a run. Now, going to extra innings, the Orange went 0-3 in extra innings games last season. 

But Seaton delivered again in the eighth. The junior grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored leadoff hitter Jadyn Burney, after she walked and stole second base earlier in the inning. 

Now with the lead, SU relief pitcher Madison Knight slammed the door with a little help from her defense. After walking the leadoff hitter, freshman catcher Grace Weaver picked up her first caught stealing of her career and gunned down the runner at second. Knight would go on to retire the next two hitters, which ended the game. 

Syracuse is back in action next weekend in the Bevo Classic out in Texas. The game for the ‘Cuse is this Friday at 2:30 against Abilene Christian, with another game that day at 8:30 against the number one team in college softball: the Texas Longhorns. 

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