Syracuse’s Comeback Falls Just Short in First Game of ACC Play

By Cole Purvis | @Cole_Purvis

Syracuse softball (16-4, 0-1 ACC) began its journey through conference play in a different looking way than normal. The Orange traveled to Palo Alto, California to square off against No. 19 Stanford (16-3, 3-1 ACC) in their first matchup as conference foes.

In what has become frequent for SU in the past couple of weeks, the seventh inning would bring the heat. Down 4-2 going into the final frame, Syracuse worked a bases loaded walk with one out. However, Stanford buckled down defensively and got the final two outs, surviving a Syracuse comeback to win 4-3.

Stanford looked the part of a ranked squad early on. The Cardinal scored all four of their runs in the second inning, beating up on SU pitcher Madison Knight. It started when freshman Joie Economides smacked a triple to right field, scoring Kyra Chan to make it 1-0. Economides would cross home herself when graduate student Caelan Koch knocked home an RBI single. Stanford would keep the line moving and hit another triple, this time off the bat of infielder Teryn Kern. When junior Emily Jones allowed Kern to score with a single, it was 4-0. Stanford would not score for the rest of the contest, but it turned out a big second inning was all they needed.

In the circle for the Cardinal was senior Kylie Chung, who had a no-hitter going through four frames, with only one runner reaching base via an error. In the fifth, however, Syracuse would cut its four run deficit in half. Showing their ability to manufacture runs, the Orange got on the board first courtesy of shortstop Jadyn Burney’s RBI single, scoring freshman Sophia Taliaferro for her first collegiate run. Center fielder Madelyn Lopez had her first hit of conference play when she knocked an RBI single to left, sending senior Taylor Posner home.

Heading into the bottom of the seventh, down 4-2, Syracuse would only get one of the two runs it needed to extend the game. The ‘Cuse loaded the bases with only one out when second baseman Angie Ramos drew a walk to make it 4-3.

With two outs, the bases loaded, and SU down a run, third baseman Kelly Breen popped out to center field to end the game and drop the Orange to 0-1 in conference play.

Although coach Shannon Doepking isn’t one to preach about moral victories, a near-comeback against the 20th ranked team in the nation is not a bad way to start conference play. However, if Syracuse wants to place itself in ACC contention this year, it’ll have to win the big moments where the game can flip on its head. The Orange did not do that on Friday. SU will have another opportunity to play Stanford on Saturday at 5pm ET.

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