Inside Syracuse’s Offensive Explosion Against Morgan State, and Comeback Win Over Quinnipiac

By Cole Purvis | @Cole_Purvis

NEWARK, DE – In game one, Syracuse softball (16-3) put a beating on Morgan State (2-11), and came back down by three in the final inning to beat Quinnipiac (4-7) at the Blue Hen Invitational on Saturday. The Orange poured it on in the first game, winning 15-2 over the Bears, and then topped the Bobcats 4-3 courtesy of senior Taylor Posner’s walk-off.

Game 1
Going into the fourth inning, Syracuse was flirting with its worst loss of the season. Morgan State, a previously 2-10 squad out of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, was up 2-0 on SU, courtesy of a 2-RBI double off the bat of outfielder Cassie White. After that, it was a ‘Cuse explosion.

The fourth would prove to be the most productive inning of the season for the Orange, until they would outdo themselves later in the game. Six runs in the fourth frame gave the Orange a 6-2 lead. Eight of the nine hitters in SU’s lineup would bat in the inning, with the Orange tallying 4 RBI singles, and being assisted by the Bears’ 2 errors.

Syracuse tacked on another run in the top of the fifth when Tessa Galipeau hit her second homer of the season. The solo shot made it 7-2 ‘Cuse. In the sixth, one more was added, as center fielder Madelyn Lopez scored shortstop Jadyn Burney with an RBI single.

In the top of the seventh, Syracuse scored, scored, and scored again. The Orange produced seven runs before one out was recorded. Twelve different players got at-bats in the inning, and six players got a hit. After scoring six in the fourth, Syracuse notched seven in an inning that never seemed to end.

Early on, Morgan State played much better than their record indicated. But from the fourth inning on, the Bears had all sorts of problems, allowing 15 unanswered runs, and committing five errors. Sophomore Serena Rodriguez pitched the first six innings for MSU, allowing seven runs, only three of those earned. Freshman Victoria Recendez pitched the seventh, responsible for Syracuse’s offensive onslaught.

For the Orange, Tessa Galipeau was the biggest standout of all the strong performers on offense today. The first baseman had a home run, four hits, and 2 RBI.

Lopez had three hits and three RBI, and second baseman Angie Ramos had three hits, 2 RBI.

In the circle, Julianna Verni continued to be a workhorse for SU. After tossing a complete game in yesterday’s win over Delaware, the junior threw three innings today, before giving way to Madison Knight, who pitched the last four innings, not allowing a run.

SU’s 13-run victory is its largest win of the season, topping the 12-1 win over Tennessee Tech two weeks ago.

Game 2
Looking to avenge yesterday’s 4-1 loss to Quinnipiac, Syracuse was unable to pick up where it left off in the first game, at least for the first six innings.

SU turned to freshman Sydney Jackson in the circle, but she would only see one inning of work after giving up two runs, one of them earned. Quinnipiac solved her early, as catcher Riley Potter reached on an error, with infielder Sofia Vega scoring. After senior Ella McGalliard singled to right, driving home Brooke Hilliard, the Bobcats held a 2-0 advantage.

Third baseman Kelly Breen would help SU’s cause in the bottom of the third, cutting the lead in half with an RBI single to left. Shortstop Jadyn Burney would cross home to make it 2-1.

With junior Julianna Verni on the bump, Syracuse allowed Quinnipiac to score an insurance run due to an SU error, scoring Vega once again.

Heading into the bottom of the seventh, down 3-1, Syracuse would load the bases with just one out. Catcher Laila Morales-Alves hit a clutch two-RBI single, scoring Angie Ramos and Madelyn Lopez. Just like that, the game was tied at 3-3.

Still with one out, senior Taylor Posner stepped up to the plate with the chance to be the hero. The right fielder had been in and out of the lineup all season, and came into the weekend with just two hits on the year. This would be her biggest moment of her senior year thus far. The veteran ripped an opposite field single, and when Peyton Schemmer touched home, Syracuse had walked off Quinnipiac 4-3, splitting its two games with the Bobcats on the weekend.

Lopez, Breen and Posner all contributed the most, having multi-hit games. Syracuse finishes the Blue Hen Invitational at 4-1, with that one defeat coming at the hands of Quinnipiac yesterday.

Next up, conference play kicks off. The Orange make the lengthy trek out west to take on Stanford, starting on Friday.

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