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Entering its finale at the Georgia Classic, Syracuse didn’t have many flaws. The Orange entered Friday’s Georgia Classic opener with the top ERA in NCAA softball (0.36) and were yet to lose a game. The 9-0 start was Syracuse’s best in program history and eventually grew to 11-0.

But SU hadn’t been thoroughly tested. Before facing No. 9 Georgia Saturday, the Orange entered their matchup 5-19 against ranked opponents in the regular season over the last three years. Their poor performance in such games continued against the Bulldogs, falling 8-2.

And on Sunday, Syracuse (12-2, 0-0 Atlantic Coast) got another chance, but again, No. 9 Georgia (13-0, 0-0 Southeastern) prevailed 3-1. The Orange began the day by defeating Appalachian State (3-11, 0-0 Sun Belt) 6-3, but couldn’t carry their momentum into their Georgia Classic finale. SU notched 11 hits against the Mountaineers but managed just four versus the Bulldogs.

For Syracuse to return to the win column, it had to do what it struggled to do against UGA on Saturday. The Orange allowed a season-high eight runs on 10 hits. Georgia’s first three batters collected a combined five RBIs, and the Bulldogs only stranded five runners on base.

Despite a few scares against a 3-10 Appalachian State team, SU got the job done. The Mountaineers’ first three hitters tallied just one RBI and stranded nine runners on base. Syracuse’s dominant pitching returned with seven strikeouts while surrendering four hits.

However, the Mountaineers were the first on the board, with Leah Gore driving in Makayla McClain on a double down the left-field line in the first inning. Macy Hamby then walked on four pitches, and SU pitcher Sydney Jackson seemed to be in trouble.

However, with runners on first and second base and just one out, Jackson settled in, striking out the next two batters after notching just three strikeouts in her start Saturday. The freshman again finished with three punchouts, but those two silenced Appalachian State’s early attack.

It didn’t take long for Syracuse to tie things up. In the bottom half of the frame, Madelyn Lopez singled and advanced to second on a throwing error by pitcher Ava Beamesderfer. Laila Morales-Alves helped her to third with a groundout before Angie Ramos singled up the middle to score Lopez.

In the second inning, Syracuse continued to strike. Taylor Davison collected her first hit of the season before Lauren Fox moved her to second with her first career knock. After a Gabby Lantier strikeout, Lopez doubled to left center, scoring both runners.

With a 3-1 lead, Jackson cruised through the third inning before running into trouble in the fourth. Summer Simpson led the frame off walking on six pitches before the ensuing batter, Madison McIntyre, blasted a homer.

Syracuse was retired in order in the bottom half of the fourth, and the Mountaineers seemed to have the momentum. However, SU reliever Jackie Pengel shut them down.

The right-hander tallied three strikeouts in the top of the fifth inning before her offense gave her the lead. Ramos singled before Madison Knight drove her in with a home run. Then, Kayla Sigala collected her first career hit and RBI with a single up the middle.

Sigala’s knock sealed the deal for the Orange as Julianna Verni sealed the win with scoreless sixth and seventh innings.

Thirty minutes later, Syracuse began its second game against Georgia. The Orange struggled early.

A Kelly Breen double play kept SU scoreless in the top of the first before UGA struck offensively in the bottom of the frame. Dallis Goodnight started things off with a single on Knight’s second pitch. Then, she entered scoring position with her 11th stolen base of the year.

Following Goodnight’s hit, Syracuse nearly turned a rare 1-5-3 double play to end the inning. But, the call was overturned, which extended the inning and allowed the Bulldogs to tack on a run.

In the second inning, SU again could’ve escaped without giving up a run. But Morales-Alves dropped a popup in foul territory, leading to an eventual walk. Goodnight then doubled to put runners on second and third. Jaydyn Goodwin finished things by driving in a run with a single, giving Georgia a 2-0 lead.

Syracuse then responded in the third inning. The Orange were lifted by Tessa Galiepeau and Lopez singles, bringing up Breen. The shortstop tapped one to Emily Digby, who fielded it cleanly and got an out at second base. Still, Sophia Taliaferro, who pinch-ran for Galipeau, scored.

Despite trailing by just a run through three innings, SU only tallied one more hit, a meaningless single in the top of the fifth. Georgia’s Randi Roelling tossed her second complete game of the year and a Marisa Miller home run in the sixth led the Orange to their second loss of the season to UGA.

Published on February 23, 2025 at 5:07 pm

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