Two Opening Day Games, Two Wins For Syracuse Softball

By Cole Purvis | @Cole_Purvis

WILMINGTON, NC – Oftentimes, opening day is a mystery. Rust can be present, chemistry may not have been built, and teams can get off to sloppy starts. That was not the case today for Syracuse Softball. The Orange won both games of their Friday doubleheader at the UNC Wilmington tournament, beating crosstown rival Le Moyne, 3-1, and host school UNC Wilmington, 5-1.

Game 1

It had to be odd for two schools located in Syracuse, New York to face off in North Carolina, but that’s the reality of early-season college softball. 

The Syracuse bats were active early, but they certainly left some runs on the board. The Orange did get a run in the first via a Laila Morales-Alves sacrifice flyout, but with a chance to get more, Taylor Posner struck out to leave the bases loaded. In the bottom of the second, SU left two runners on base, keeping the advantage at 1-0. 

Both teams were quiet at the plate until the bottom of the fourth, when Morales-Alves continued her opening game production. The catcher doubled down the right field line, scoring Kelly Breen and Jadyn Burney, and giving the Orange a 3-0 lead.

Le Moyne cracked the scoreboard in the fifth, when right fielder Alyssa Dybacz singled to right, bringing third baseman Gabrielle Zarcone home. That would be the only run scored by the Dolphins on the afternoon.

In the circle, junior Julianna Verni tossed 5 innings, doing just enough for coach Shannon Doepking to hand the ball to George Washington transfer Rose Cano, who tossed two scoreless, sealing the deal. The Orange will take wins any way they can get them, and this game was an encouraging start for SU.

Game 2

The next challenge facing the Orange was a very short turnaround between games. Just under 45 minutes after beating Le Moyne, SU was back in action, taking on the Seahawks of UNC Wilmington.

SU had their ace, Madison Knight, pitching for the first time this season, and the junior was challenged early. After clawing her way out of a bases loaded jam in the first inning, UNCW finally broke through in the fourth, when Maggie Pertee drove in Arial Pearce to give the Seahawks a 1-0 lead.

The floodgates opened for the trailing Orange in the top of the fourth. Peyton Schemmer cracked a single to right field, scoring 2 runs, and advancing to second on a throwing error. Later in the inning, Mississippi State transfer Jadyn Burney hit an RBI single, extending the lead to 3-1.

It turned out that some production from her offense was just what Madison Knight needed, as she heated up late in the contest. The pitcher did not give up a run the final four innings of the game, finishing with 10 strikeouts. It was a convincing, sharp display of pitching for a player who will be relied on as the team’s go-to in the circle for the entirety of the season. 

In the seventh, SU got some insurance. Madelyn Lopez doubled to center, driving in Schemmer. Shortly after, Kelly Breen singled, sending Burney home. Burney was a force on the basepaths, stealing 3 bases on the day, and advancing on a passed ball twice, proving she can be a weapon in the baserunning department.

Knight polished off her complete game in the bottom of the seventh, and after one day of softball, Syracuse found itself 2-0. Tomorrow, it’ll receive two more chances to compete. The first game is at 12:30 against Queens University, and a second tilt against UNCW at 5:30.

For coverage of those games, and all things Syracuse Softball, follow @Cole_Purvis and @CitrusTVSports on X.