Syracuse dominated by Clemson in 8-1 loss
Syracuse softball fell 8-1 to Clemson on Friday. The Orange’s loss drops their ACC record to 1-6. Angelina Grevi | Staff Photographer
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Historically, Syracuse has not played well against Clemson. The teams have faced off 10 times, and Clemson has won nine of those meetings. Despite the history, this season both teams entered their matchup having won twice as many games as they’ve lost, setting up a likely close matchup.
However, history repeated itself. Syracuse (19-9, 1-6 Atlantic Coast) fell to Clemson (22-9, 4-3 Atlantic Coast) 8-1 Friday in the first game of their weekend tripleheader. The Orange’s ace Madison Knight, who entered with a 7-4 record, conceded all four runs in the second inning and was pulled in the fourth, while SU only mustered five hits.
The game started off slow with neither team recording a hit in the first inning. But Clemson took off in the top of the second, scoring four runs. Clemson’s Kylee Johnson singled to allow Sam Minish to run home from second and score the first run of the game.
With two outs, Maddie Moore hit a double to left field, bringing Alex Brown and Jamison Brockenbrough home for an early 4-0 lead.
To redeem herself after the second inning, Knight shut Clemson down in the top of the third and fourth. They were the only two innings in which the Tigers failed to get a player on base.
“I just needed to be better,” Knight said. “(Like) putting my 0-1 and 1-2 pitches in better spots, instead of leaving them more on the corners.”
While Knight made adjustments in the following two innings after allowing four runs, Clemson made adjustments from the fourth to the fifth. With only one out and Brown on first base, Julia Knowler hit a home run to right field, earning Clemson two more runs.
Macey Cintron was up to bat next and hit another home run to right center, moving the score to 7-0. After the second home run, Syracuse put Sydney Jackson in to replace Knight in the circle.
Clemson scored its final run of the game in the top of the sixth inning and Syracuse finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Brockenbrough singled and Alex Brown followed with a double. Brockenbrough was thrown out at home, but Maddie Moore’s sacrifice fly brought Brown in, extending the lead to 8-0.
In the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs, Syracuse managed to load the bases with Sophia Taliaferro, Lauren Fox, and Knight. Tessa Galipeau was at bat and hit a single that flew past Clemson’s first baseman and allowed Taliaferro to score, preventing a shutout.
From there, SU’s Taylor Posner grounded out to shortstop and earned its third out of the inning and put an end to Syracuse’s rally.
“If we can get more quality at bats back to back to back (earlier in the game), then we’ll be able to pile on more runs, and not when we need it at the end of the game,” Knight said.
In their last chance to score, the Orange ended the bottom of the seventh inning with two players on base and no runs. So, in the end, Syracuse’s dry spell against the Tigers continued.
“This is a game, and sometimes it rewards you with all your hard work, and sometimes it punches you in the face,” Knight said.
