Syracuse Softball Crushed by Duke
By Spencer Pierce
CitrusTV’s Softball Beat Reporter
Syracuse Orange Softball (6-8, 2-5 Atlantic Coast) played worse today than they did yesterday. And that says a lot, considering they looked helpless vs the Duke Blue Devils (23-1, 11-1 ACC), who swept Syracuse in two games today.
The Orange mustered up only one hit in the entire first game of the doubleheader, falling 11-0 in five innings.
The Blue Devils wasted no time with the Orange today, as they got out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back.
A minimal effort on offense combined with an eight-run 3rd inning left the Orange for dead, and there wasn’t anything they could do, as Duke pitcher Peyton St. George moved to 10-0 on the season.
Shannon Doepking’s squad put up a fight in the second game, but just like their last two efforts, they weren’t able to get it done.
Heading into the top of the 2nd inning, the Orange were already facing a 4-0 deficit.
A Rebecca Clyde RBI single gave the Orange their first run of not only the game but the entire day. The two teams fought for a few innings of back and forth softball, with both teams adding on. However, Duke simply overpowered the Orange and ultimately won, 7-3. The loss puts Syracuse at 6-8 on the season.
Things weren’t all bad for the Orange today, though, as there were multiple moments where the defense came to play. Two plays that come to mind happened back-to-back. First, Angel Jasso made a running catch into the right-field wall, saving what would have likely been two runs. She was then one-upped by her outfield counterpart, Paris Woods, as Woods put her body on the line and made an ESPN Top 10 type play. Her full-extension catch ended the inning for the Orange and left many jaws on the floor.
Big defensive plays in the bottom of the fourth 😤🤯
We’re into the fifth, trailing 5-1.
📺 ACC Network. pic.twitter.com/pB0JvYiuMJ
— Syracuse Softball (@CuseSB) March 20, 2021
Though the Orange lost the series already, they’ll face the Blue Devils tomorrow before they head to Pittsburgh to take on the Panthers on March 26th.
swpierce@syr.edu | @swlp91
