The Long Ball Hurts the Orange in a 7-5 loss to Pittsburgh
Nathaniel Cunningham | @n_cunning_0
Syracuse Softball (21-20, 5-13 Atlantic Coast Conference) has done a great job at limiting Home Runs from opponents. However, today against Pittsburgh, SU gave up 4 long balls in the first inning en route to a 7-5 loss.
Jessie DiPasquale got her third start of the year and her first appearance against the Panthers which didn’t turn out too well. An early single followed by a failed pick-off attempt led to a runner on second with just one out. Then Cami Compson smashed her third homer of the series off the batter’s eye to take an early 2-run lead.
DiPasquale would get the batter with a line out however she would then get into a long at-bat with Desirae Martinez. The third baseman would come out on top with a home run of her own that scraped over the center field wall. DiPasquale would give up a single to the next batter on just 2 pitches and her day ended early.
Lindsey Hendrix took over the circle in the first after throwing a complete game yesterday. While she was dominant the day prior, that success did not translate. On her very first pitch, Rachel Fuerst smashed a home run to left field over the scoreboard extending Pitts’s lead to 5.
The very next batter, Ana Hernandez, took 5 pitches but would also smash a home run to center field. Through just one inning, SU had used 2 pitchers, given up 4 homers, and was down 6.
The Orange responded handily at the top of the second though. With 2 outs, Syracuse strung together 2 singles, 2 walks, and then another single to cut the deficit in half. However, the Panthers would get one back thanks to an Amanda Ramierz single.
The third through sixth innings saw something that hasn’t been seen all series; a pitcher’s duel. Adriana Romano gave up just 3 hits in those 4 innings and walked just 2. Hendrix gave up a hit in the third then passed the ball to Madison Knight. The sophomore allowed 3 hits and 2 walks in her three innings of action.
Going into the seventh, Syracuse was down 7-3 but decided to make this a game. Taylor Posner led the inning off with a single and Madison Knight helped herself out with a homer to left-center field. Now with just a 2 run game, Laila Morales-Alves singled and put the tying run at the plate with one out.
Pittsburgh decided to change up the Looks for SU and go back to Olivia Stefanoni, who started all three games for the Panthers. She walked her first batter allowing Peyton Schemmer to be the go-ahead run at the plate. However, pitchers that were located right on the corners for flyouts for both Schemmer and Rebecaa Clyde ended the comeback attempt and won the series for Pittsburgh.
It wasn’t all bad news for Syracuse though. Despite the loss, SU held on to its 10 place in the ACC which keeps them in the conference tournament. However, for the Orange, it will be a tough task to pick up any more ACC wins as their remaining schedule consists of #16 Virginia Tech and #18 Florida State, The top 2 teams in the ACC. Before that, Syracuse takes on Le Moyne in a non-conference doubleheader this Wednesday at 2 and 4.
