Syracuse Completes the Opening Weekend Sweep
By Cole Purvis | @Cole_Purvis
WILMINGTON, NC – Syracuse Softball’s 4-1 win over Le Moyne on Sunday morning put a bow on a successful opening five games for the Orange at the UNC Wilmington tournament.
SU wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, putting runners in scoring position, allowing third baseman Kelly Breen to collect an RBI on a sacrifice fly. The Orange had a chance for more in the opening frame, with runners on first and second, but the Dolphins buckled down and minimized the damage.
After walking two in the first inning, pitcher Jackie Pengel settled in. The junior, who missed all of last year due to injury, did not allow a baserunner in the second or third inning. Pengel went the distance, throwing 100 pitches, and striking out seven hitters.
In SU’s half of the second inning, the bats once again made noise. A Madelyn Lopez single up the middle sent Gabby Lantier home to make it 2-0 Syracuse.
Most of Syracuse’s offensive production has come late in games, and Sunday morning, they continued that trend. Peyton Schemmer, who has been a nice surprise in the early going of the season, ripped a single in the top of the fifth, which scored Madelyn Lopez. SU kept it going thanks to a Le Moyne wild pitch, as senior Madison Knight scored on a passed ball to make it 4-0. Le Moyne would get one back in the bottom of the fifth, as freshman Cianna Benemati blasted one over the left field wall for a solo home run to make it 4-1.
In the bottom of the seventh, SU turned a double play to clinch the victory.
Syracuse displayed an ability to manufacture runs all weekend. The Orange did not exactly hit for power, but rather put the ball in play and good things happened.
Defensively, SU only allowed three runs combined in five games at UNCW. The ‘Cuse minimized mistakes and errors, staying sharp defensively, en route to a 5-0 weekend.
Syracuse is back in action next week at the Columbus Classic in Georgia, where it has another five games against non-conference opponents.
