Syracuse Softball Swept by Louisville in First Home Series

The Orange dropped both games against the Cardinals.

In their first games at Skytop Stadium, the Syracuse softball team couldn’t muster up a win against the Louisville Cardinals. With game three being canceled due to cold weather, just two games were played this weekend. Syracuse lost both, 5-3 and 8-0, respectively.

Here’s how both games went down:

Game 1, 5-3 L:

Out of the two games played in this series, this was Syracuse’s best performance by far, despite them ending up with another loss. Lindsey Hendriz pitched a complete game, allowing just three earned runs, and the Syracuse offense amassed six hits.

After Louisville took a 4-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning, Syracuse responded in the fifth. Third baseman Rebecca Clyde accomplished a feat rarely seen in college softball: an inside-the-park home run. The two runners on base also scored, giving Syracuse three runs off a single hit.

However, Syracuse was unable to complete the comeback. Both Geana Torres and Madelyn Lopez grounded out right after Clyde’s heroic hit. The score was 4-3 headed into the final two frames.

Louisville scored one more run in the top of the seventh to extend their lead. With three outs to make something happen at the plate, first baseman Tessa Galipeau singled to kick things off. However, immediately after, second baseman Trinity Nichols hit into a double play. Catcher Laila Alves fouled out to end the game.

Like Lindsey Hendrix, Louisville pitcher Taylor Roby threw a complete game, though with just two strikeouts to show for it. Hendrix sat down three Cardinals and walked two.

In their first home game of the year, Syracuse picked up their sixteenth loss, falling to 10-16-1 on the season. Due to weather issues, Syracuse would have to suit up just half an hour later to take on the Cardinals again in a double-header.

Game 2, 8-0 L:

This game did not go as well as the first, with Syracuse getting run ruled in six innings. In college softball, if a team leads by eight or more runs after five full innings, the game is over.

Louisville got off to a quick start at the plate. Taylor Roby, the pitcher from game one, proved that she’s a dual threat; she knocked one over the fence to score two quick runs for the Cardinals. Those two RBIs would be two of her eventual total of six on the day.

To say ‘Cuse struggled at the plate would be an understatement; the Orange mustered up just one hit. It would come courtesy of Tessa Galipeau single in the fourth frame. At that point, Louisville had already notched two more runs off a Sarah Gordon two-run homer.

For good measure, Taylor Roby hit a grand slam in the top of the sixth to make the score 8-0 in the blink of an eye. In their last chance to extend the game, the Orange struck out three batters, with a Kelly Breen walk in between the second and third.

Continuing her season-long trend, Madison Knight continued to struggle to control her walks, issuing seven on the day. However, she managed to strike out six batters despite the high-power Louisville bats. Kaia Oliver came in to relieve Knight in the sixth, but was unsuccessful, walking one batter and allowing two runs to score, both earned.

The dynamic duo of Alyssa Zabala and Gabby Halloway was dominant in the circle for Louisville, pitching a combined one-hitter shutout. The pair combined for five strikeouts and two walks.

What’s next:

At 10-17-1, Syracuse stands at second-to-last in the ACC, with only Boston College below them in the conference standings. Syracuse will take on the NC State Wolfpack, currently ranked ninth in the ACC, just three spots ahead of ‘Cuse.

With no midweek matchup for the Orange, they’ll have until Thursday to rest. The games will take place April 6 at 6 p.m., April 7 at 3 p.m. and April 8 at 1 p.m. Admission to Skytop Stadium is free and the games will all be broadcast on ACC Network Extra. 

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