Time to Panic for Syracuse Softball? I’d Say So

By Cole Purvis | @Cole_Purvis

In last week’s article, I discussed how Syracuse softball (22-19, 3-15 ACC) was in danger of missing the ACC tournament. If they were in danger last week, then this week, it’s a full-blown panic alarm. Evacuate the building, because the damage has gone from bad to worse.

It started last Wednesday, when the ‘Cuse traveled to Ithaca to take on Cornell, a team that was (and still is) below .500 in the Ivy League. It seemed as if this was a great opportunity for the Orange to collect a non-conference victory and get back into the win column after a series loss at Georgia Tech just days before. However, SU learned it cannot get complacent. 

With the game having been tied at 1-1 since the bottom of the second, a solo home run off the bat of Cornell catcher Lauren Holt gave the Big Red a 2-1 lead that they would not give up. Syracuse dropped its second game against a mid-major opponent this season, not garnering the momentum it needed between ACC series.

Then, the issues compounded, as head coach Shannon Doepking and company made the trip to Charlottesville, Virginia, to face the Virginia Cavaliers.

In what seems like a weekly occurrence, the weather has impacted Syracuse’s schedule. Friday’s season opener was rained out, pushing Saturday to a doubleheader.

Game one of that series was the only game in which SU went into the late innings with a chance to win the game, but a UVA two-run homer extended the Cavaliers lead to 5-0 in the sixth inning.

The next two games seemed to be on easy mode for the Hoos. Game two was a 10-0 victory, with game three a 10-2 win. Both contests ended in five innings due to the mercy rule.

Looking at the bigger picture, the four straight losses – and eight in the last nine games – pushes SU all the way into the basement of the conference. The Orange are in last place, a game back of Pittsburgh, the closest team to Syracuse. This makes the ACC tournament seem like a pipe dream at this point in the season, as the Orange need to be a top-12 team in the conference to make it.

Syracuse’s next chance to climb up the ladder comes next weekend when it hosts Boston College. The Eagles are currently the last team into the tournament, and will likely come into that three-game series at Skytop Stadium with a lot to play for. After that, it’s three contests against Cal to close out the regular season.

To see if Syracuse can turn it around and make the postseason, follow along with my coverage on X @Cole_Purvis, as well as @CitrusTVSports.