Here’s What We Learned About Syracuse Softball Last Weekend
By Cole Purvis | @Cole_Purvis
The next chapter in Syracuse softball’s 2025 season will be written in the Peach State. The Orange are warm weather bound once again, as they get set to participate in the Columbus Classic, in Columbus, Georgia. But before we dive into what will go down on the diamond this weekend, let’s rewind to the week prior.
If you weren’t following along last week, that’s alright. You’re forgiven – just this one time. Syracuse went 5-0 during its opening weekend tournament in Wilmington, North Carolina, beating Le Moyne twice, host school UNC Wilmington twice, and Queens University once. The Orange never allowed more than one run in any of those contests, with two of them being shutouts.
Let’s hand out some flowers to a few solid hitters, surprise performers, and shutdown pitchers from last week:
Madelyn Lopez
The junior slugger did everything expected of her and more, going 9-for-15, setting the tone for the offense. She has found a home at the two spot in the order, hitting there in all five games last weekend. Lopez hit 3 RBI, and scored 3 runs herself, being a major contributor to all SU was able to do at the dish.
Gabby Lantier
Even with how good Lopez was, she still didn’t hit for the highest average on the team. Lantier, who only played in four of SU’s five games and started in three, hit .667, going 6-for-9. The junior helped prove just how strong the bottom of the order can be for coach Shannon Doepking’s squad this season. In the games Lantier did play, she was slotted in the nine hole. If the Orange can have someone that consistently hits for average this low in the order, this will allow for more runners on base when the top of the order steps up to the plate.
Jadyn Burney
So far, it’s been a smooth transition from the SEC to the ACC for the speedy senior. Burney, the Mississippi State transfer, had five hits, and as her last name suggests, she will burn you on the basepaths. The infielder stole four bases over the course of the weekend, also advancing on multiple passed balls, showing a heads up ability in the baserunning department. Syracuse so far has not hit for a ton of power. Rather, the offense has manufactured its runs, by putting the ball in play and being opportunistic on the basepaths. Burney had shown the ability to do both of those things.
Julianna Verni
While Madison Knight is the unquestioned ace of Syracuse’s rotation, Verni was last weekend’s workhorse. The junior tossed 12 innings, including a complete game shutout of UNC Wilmington in which she only allowed three Seahawks to reach base the entire game. As mentioned earlier, Knight is the star, but Verni is capable of being a solid starter as well.
Looking Forward
This week’s Columbus Classic in Georgia pits SU against three more mid-major schools. Long Island University, also hailing from New York, heads into the tourney at 1-4. The Orange and the Sharks will battle twice, starting with the first game at 3 p.m. on Friday. Syracuse will also face the 3-2 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, before rounding out play against 2-4 Army.
Conference play is what matters most, but these early season tournaments are critical in getting a team in rhythm to play its best down the stretch in a season. If Syracuse can sweep all five games for the second consecutive weekend, it will be a highly encouraging sign to see that the Orange are taking care of business early on.
Follow @Cole_Purvis and @CitrusTVSports on X for live updates of the Columbus Classic, and for all things Syracuse softball and Syracuse sports.
