Highlighting Syracuse Softball’s Unsung Contributors
Cole Purvis | @Cole_Purvis
Syracuse softball’s 12-2 record has been the product of not just one player, but rather a deep roster with consistency all across the board.
If you’re just hopping on the bandwagon, let’s recap some of the latest happenings. SU went into this week’s Georgia Classic unbeaten at 9-0. Previously, six wins was the longest the program had gone before dropping its first contest, meaning this start to the year was the best in school history. After a win over Buffalo to open up the tournament in Athens, Syracuse finally had to face a power-conference opponent, and not just any, but the number nine team in the country, the Georgia Bulldogs.
The Orange dropped their first game to the ‘Dogs 8-2 Friday afternoon, although the final score doesn’t tell the full story, considering it was only 5-2 going into the final inning. The next day, it was a much closer battle, as SU ace Madison Knight held UGA relatively in check, en route to just a 3-1 loss.
With two more wins this weekend over App State and Utah Valley, coach Shannon Doepking’s squad finished the weekend 3-2. For a team with low expectations coming in, losses to a top-10 team and wins over all its other opponents is encouraging.
When diving into who exactly is responsible for this start, you may look at Madelyn Lopez, who is hitting just below .500 on the season, or Knight, who has pitched lights out, and contributes as a hitter, but there are several underrated players on this roster who have done a lot to fuel the team’s success.
Angie Ramos
The Californian saw reps last year, but only started in eight games. That is not the case this year, as Ramos has been a fixture in Syracuse’s starting lineup. The senior is hitting .459, good for the second-best average on the team, and is tied for the lead in RBI. In terms of on-base percentage, Ramos reaches base exactly half the time she comes up to the plate. It’s a huge luxury for SU to have someone as reliable as her.
Ramos is not just reliable, but versatile. When she’s reaching base, her speed has been of use, as she is 2-for-2 on stolen base attempts. She’s been a coaches’ player, starting every game this season. Don’t expect that to change.
Laila Morales-Alves
Pitcher-catcher chemistry is key in softball, and you can’t really ask the catcher position to be steadier than it is for the ‘Cuse. Syracuse went into this weekend with a 0.36 ERA, the best in the nation, with Alves behind the plate for all those games. She has only allowed two passed balls get by through 14 contests, keeping the ball in front of her and not allowing teams to take advantage of SU on the bases.
At the plate, Alves has 8 RBI on the season, hitting .362. Like Ramos, she is a senior who is at the point in her career where she is starting every game, and has taken the challenge and ran with it.
Julianna Verni
Knight has established herself as the ace, but so far this season, Verni has a lower ERA at 0.43 and has done that in the same amount of innings pitched. The senior has been effective in a starting role, but has also shown the ability to come on in relief and pick up a save, which she did against App State this past weekend.
Conference play is a whole different monster, and we have yet to see how she responds to facing simply better teams. Knight will likely start to see more work when March rolls around. However, at least so far, Verni has been more than solid in the circle for SU.
This week
Syracuse travels to the Diamond State this week, playing in the Blue Hen Invitational in Newark, Delaware. The first game is Thursday at 5 p.m., when the ‘Cuse battle host school Delaware, for one of two matchups against the Blue Hens. Two games against Quinnipiac, and one against Morgan State round out the tournament.
For coverage this weekend, stay locked to @Cole_Purvis and @CitrusTVSports on X.
