Madison Knight Shines in Syracuse’s Thrilling Win Over Delaware
By Cole Purvis | @Cole_Purvis
NEWARK, DE – In the bottom of the seventh inning, Madison Knight had lost her no-hitter, but she would not allow her team to lose the game.
After the junior hit the go-ahead home run in her team’s half of the final inning, Knight got back on the bump, looking to close it out. She would allow one Delaware run to be scored, setting up for a dramatic finish. With the bases loaded, two outs, and SU up by a run, Knight got Delaware infielder Marlayna Capaldi to fan for strike three, giving Syracuse (13-2) the 2-1 win over Delaware (4-7).
Let’s rewind to the early stages of the game, the Blue Hen Invitational opener for both squads. Host school Delaware was debuting a brand-new turf field, and looked to be the first unranked opponent to top Syracuse this season. The Orange had Knight, their ace, in the circle. The Blue Hens countered with Monmouth transfer Billie Kerwood. Both hurlers would control the game from start to finish.
After two early walks, Knight would start rolling, not allowing a hit through six innings. Kerwood would allow a couple of hits, but largely contained the Orange, keeping them scoreless. The senior even eclipsed 500 strikeouts on her career in the third inning, becoming one of ten active pitchers in college softball to exceed that mark.
SU’s best chance came in the top of the fifth, when center fielder Madelyn Lopez cracked a single to right. Pinch runner Sophia Taliaferro, who was on second, rounded third and charged for home, but she was thrown out by UD right fielder Morgan Hess.
Heading into the top of the seventh, Syracuse had allowed zero hits, and Delaware just four. Eager to break the tie and help her own cause, Knight (who also hits) blasted a home run to left, making it 1-0 ‘Cuse. Infielder Peyton Schemmer showed some power on the next at bat, hitting a dinger right around the same spot as Knight’s. Back-to-back home runs for Syracuse broke what was a stalemate into the latest possible stage of the game.
Down 2-0, Delaware gave Syracuse all it could handle. Hess doubled to left, scoring junior Grace Hausamann to make it 2-1. With Hess on second and one out, Delaware would work a walk, followed by a single, to load the bases. Knight would come up clutch, striking out the final two batters, moving SU to 13-2 on the year in a thrilling finish.
The ‘Cuse pitcher moves to 5-1 on the year, with Kerwood dropping to 3-4, despite a strong effort that just fell apart at the end.
Syracuse survives the first game down in Delaware, and is back in action tomorrow taking on Quinnipiac at 12:30. For live updates, follow @Cole_Purvis and @CitrusTVSports on X.
