Syracuse softball splits first two games against Pitt
By: Nick Zuppe | @nickzuppe
GAME 1
Syracuse softball beats Pitt 9-6 in extra innings for its first ACC win this season
Pittsburgh, PA – Syracuse softball (12-14, 1-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) took down Pitt (18-17, 4-9 Atlantic Coast Conference) 9-6 in eight innings for its first ACC win of the season. So, how did the Orange pull it off?
Well, for the first time in conference play, the ‘Cuse’s offense lifted it to a win. Up 2-1 in the top of the fifth inning, first baseman Kaimi Tulua crushed a grand slam over the center field fence that put the Orange up by 5. Plus, this was the first time that SU led after five innings of play in an ACC game this season.
But, Pitt would tie it up, with the long ball being the major factor. In the sixth, pinch-hitter Addison Toczek hit a two-run home run that made it a 6-3 game. But, after Pitt came back from a 7-2 deficit the game prior to winning, the Panthers tied it up in the seventh.
After a wild pitch that made it a 6-4 game, Camryn Murphy belted a two-run home run off SU’s starting pitcher, Madison Knight, to tie it up. Also, both teams hit three home runs in the game.
But in the eighth, it was all Orange! After Vanessa Flores sac bunted two runners to second and third, Knight delivered at the plate. The senior doubled to left field to give SU the lead back, 8-6, and would add another run on a bases-loaded walk.
In the bottom half, Knight locked it down. She threw all eight innings, which is her third complete game over her last three starts.
GAME 2
Syracuse Softball falls to Pitt 6-5 in Game Two of the series
Pittsburgh, PA – Syracuse softball (12-15, 1-8 Atlantic Coast Conference) loses a close one to Pitt (19-17, 5-9 Atlantic Coast Conference) 6-5. This game was a classic, back-and-forth, conference rivalry game that went down to the wire.
After Pitt took the lead 1-0 in the bottom of the second, SU responded with two in the third, thanks to an RBI single from Madelyn Lopez and Jadyn Burney scoring on a wild pitch.
But, in the bottom of the fourth, the game was flipped in favor of the Panthers. With two outs in the inning, Pitt had three singles and a walk that plated its first run of the game, and the bases were still loaded. After catcher Grace Weaver didn’t catch the pop-up in foul territory, KK Esparza crushed a grand slam that made it a 6-2 game.
However, the ‘Cuse kept hanging around. One half inning later, SU’s Madison Knight launched a three-run home run that made it a one-run game, 6-5. The Orange have 12 hits against the Panthers this series, and four have been long balls.
All told, neither team could do any more damage, and Syracuse fell 6-5. Pitt reliever Allie Lukaszewicz retired six of the seven SU hitters she faced over the last two innings.
The rubber match between these two teams is Saturday at 2:00. Syracuse can win its first ACC series of the season. For live game updates, follow @nickzuppe on X/Twitter and @citrustvsports on X/Twitter and Youtube for coverage!
