Syracuse Softball Splits its Doubleheader on Opening Day
By: Adam Gotkin | @adam_gotkin
Citrus TV Softball Beat Reporter
JACKSONVILLE, FL – Day one of the 2023 Syracuse Softball season didn’t start the way the Orange hoped it would. Syracuse dropped its season opener for the first time since 2019. The Cuse fell to IUPUI 6-5. It was self-inflicted wounds that plagued the Orange against the Jaguars. On the offensive end, Syracuse left 13 runners on base. On the other side, only three of IUPUI’s six runs were earned runs. The Orange committed two errors in the field that they could not recover from. Eight of Syracuse’s ten starters in the contest were underclassmen.
The day wasn’t over for Syracuse then though. The Orange had another game later in the day against North Florida who went 42-17 in 2022. It was a long wait in between games for Syracuse. UNF vs IUPUI, the game before, went into a rain delay that lasted almost three hours. Once that finished up, SU vs UNF saw a short delay. But eventually, the rain went away and it was time to play game two of the day for Syracuse.
The Orange came out firing against UNF. In the top of the 1st, the Cuse scored four runs. A big part was the errors on the Ospreys. In the 2nd, Angel Jasso hit the first home run of the season for Syracuse. Then Laila Alves followed her up with a two-RBI single. The Orange never let their foot off the gas. Two more runs came in the 3rd inning off the bat of Madison Knight, who was the starting pitcher in game two.
Syracuse had a chance to end the game in the 5th inning on the run rule, as the Orange led by 9 going into the inning. However, the Ospreys kept fighting, scoring two runs to extend the game. UNF added on one more run in the 6th. No more runs were scored from there. Syracuse moved to 1-1 after the 10-4 win over a solid UNF team.
Tomorrow is another doubleheader for Syracuse. The Orange have a rematch with IUPUI at 11:30 a.m. then take on Jacksonville at 2 p.m. There is rain in the forecast. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @adam_gotkin for all updates regarding Syracuse softball!
ajgotkin@syr.edu | @adam_gotkin
