Syracuse softball falls in a heartbreaker 5-4 to Pitt in the series finale

By: Nick Zuppe | @nickzuppe

Pittsburgh, PA – Syracuse softball (12-16, 1-9 Atlantic Coast Conference) gets walked off against Pitt (20-17, 6-9 Atlantic Coast Conference) 5-4 in eight innings in the series finale. This game was like a boxing match: tons of punches thrown from both sides. 

After winning game two, Pitt used that momentum to start the scoring. Camryn Murphy blasted a three-run home run off SU’s Madison Knight in the first inning. That would be the only inning Knight pitched in the game. 

After that, the Orange responded. A sacrifice fly from Vanessa Flores in the top of the third, and a solo home run from freshman Kendall Gaunt in the top of the fifth made it a one-run game, 3-2. SU hit at least one home run in each game of the series. That score would hold until the final frame, and this is when the chaos started. 

SU scored two runs and took the lead in the top half, with a single from Vanessa Flores and a sacrifice fly from Erika Zamora, making it a 4-3 score. But in the bottom half, Pitt would force extra innings after an RBI groundout from Calle Henne. 

In game one, SU erupted for three runs in the eighth inning, but didn’t have the same magic in this game. The ‘Cuse didn’t score, and that set the stage for Pitt. With one out, Shelby Frazier blasted a solo home run off SU’s Julianna Verni for the walk-off win 5-4 and the series win, 2-1. 

Now, SU can put this weekend behind them and turn its attention to the home opener. ACC play rolls on for Syracuse, which hits the road again as it takes on Boston College down at Harrington Athletics Village this weekend: Friday at 4:00, Saturday at 3:00, and Sunday at 1:00. For live game updates, follow @nickzuppe on X/Twitter and @citrustvsports on X/Twitter and Youtube for coverage!