Syracuse Softball Splits Double-Header to Snap Losing Skid

By Spencer Pierce

CitrusTV’s Softball Beat Reporter

To say the day was a rollercoaster for the Syracuse Orange softball team would be an understatement.

The Orange came into the day on a five game losing streak and were going up against the Clemson Tigers, the 11th ranked team in the nation who was on an eighteen(!) game winning streak.

With yesterday’s loss in the rear view mirror, SU looked to change their approach at the plate. Clearly that worked, and Toni Martin was able to deliver the first RBI of game 1, putting SU up 2-0. 

Clemson would fight back, with a solo home run and timely hitting. SU’s lead diminished and ultimately vanished, as they proceeded to lose game 1, 4-2. 

So, their losing streak extends to 6 games and Clemson’s winning streak reaches 19. 

Now comes game 2. 

The first pitch of the game was smacked into right field for a double, and Clemson would ultimately score a run to go up in the first frame. 

Toni Martin’s slump was officially considered over when she hit a two run homer to right field, putting SU up, 2-1. Sound familiar?

SU would then capitalize off of Clemson’s fielding errors that same inning and take a 4-1 lead, but not for long. A 3 run home run to right field tied up the game for the Tigers, and the Orange lead quickly evaporated. Transporting to the top of the 7th, Clemson threatened against Alexa Romero and finally pulled through, ripping a ball down the left field line and scoring a runner. That’s all the damage that would be done though. 

Going into the bottom of the 7th, things looked bleak. SU hadn’t been hitting as well as they started, and Clemson’s pitching wasn’t slowing down. 

The bases quickly became loaded off an error and a walk, and Toni Martin came up with no outs. She struck out. 

Now, Clemson moved their defense back in hopes of getting a ground ball. 

They got the ground ball off Geanna Torres’s bat, but it went straight up the middle and scored the tying and game winning run after Clemson’s center fielder had trouble coming up with the throw.

Losing streak snapped. Win streak snapped. There were smiles everywhere you looked at Skytop Softball Stadium, as SU knocked off the No. 11 team in the nation. 

SU is back at it again tomorrow and will look to make some more magic.

swpierce@syr.edu | @swlp91