The Orange drop the first 2 games against the Eagles
Nathaniel Cunningham | @n_cunning_0
Citrus TV Softball Beat Reporter
After tough ACC series against Duke and Virginia, SU looked to get its first series win against a team it’s struggled against in Boston College. The Orange had dropped 5 straight to the eagles but after a 2-1 and 3-2 loss extended Syracuse’s losing skid.
Both games relied heavily on pitching from both sides. All 4 pitchers that started the games finished them. The Eagles scored runs early in both games while the orange waited until the final 2 frames to take on any offense.
Game One
It was a fairly calm game through the first inning and a half. BC’s starter Abby Dunning gave up just one hit in the first two frames. SU’s starter Madison Knight had slightly more trouble. The sophomore gave up 2 hits in the bottom half first but got out of the inning clean.
In the second, she didn’t have the same fortune. Darien McDonough reached via an error from Kelly Breen at third. Two batters later, Gator Robinson smashed a 2 run home run to right center field giving the Eagles an early 2 run lead.
From the third to the sixth inning, it became a pitchers duel. In that four inning stretch, Abby Dunning allowed just one hit while striking out five. Madison Knight turned it on as well. The sophomore also only gave up one hit and struck out 3.
With just 3 outs remaining for the Orange to get at least 2 runs, SU’s offense came to play. Kelly Breen led off the inning with a walk. Vanessa Flores knocked her third double of the year to left center and got SU on the board.
With the tying run on Second the orange were in a prime position to at least tie the game. However Angie Ramos grounded out to short while Peyton Schemmer and Rebecca Clyde both struck to give BC game one.
Game Two
45 minutes after the end to game one, Syracuse and Boston College faced off again. The pitcher duel that began in game one continued to game two. Halie Pappion started the game for BC and made quick work of the Orange.
In the bottom half of the inning, Hannah Slike doubled to right center allowing Nicole Giery to bring her in on a single to left. The Eagles again had an early lead.
The next two and a half innings saw both teams tally 2 hits but no other offense came from it, Until the bottom of the fourth.
SU pitcher Jessie Dipasquale hit Elisabeth Laviolette to start the inning. After Laviolette was bunted to second, Jordan Stephans reached on a throwing error and stole second. Then on a dropped third strike from Laila Morales-Alves, The Cavaliers brought in another run.
Dominate pitching continued for both teams until the sixth when the Orange decided to score its first runs. Who else would do it other than SU’s leader in home runs, Taylor Posner. She smashed her 9th homer of the year to straight away center to tie the game at 2 a piece.
A silent 6th inning saw the door get cracked open for a Syracuse win. But after being shut down in the top of the 7th, The Eagles finished the game. Gator Robinson doubled and advanced to third on a throwing error. Emma Jackson then reached on a throwing error allowing Hannah Slike to single into the outfield and walk off the Orange.
With a 4th straight loss, Syracuse falls to 1-7 in conference play but can pick up a much needed win on Sunday against Boston College in the series finale.
