Clemson’s 8-run 3rd inning leads to Syracuse’s 15-0 loss
Clemson burst out to an 8-0 lead in the third inning on five hits to propel it to a blowout win over Syracuse on Sunday. Angelina Grevi | Staff Photographer
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Throughout Syracuse’s first half of its season, few individual innings have defined its losses. The Orange allowed four runs in the third inning to then-No. 9 Georgia on Feb. 22 and another four in the fourth against then-No. 16 Duke on March 14.
But aside from those showings, Syracuse’s performances in the field have limited opponents from stringing runs together. In its weekend series against Clemson, that shifted.
On Friday, the Orange allowed three-plus runs in two innings. Saturday, the Tigers collected nine of their 10 runs in the final three frames, leading to SU’s 10-0 loss.
On Sunday, SU looked to avoid its second Atlantic Coast Conference sweep of the season. But Clemson’s (24-9, 6-3 ACC) five-hit, eight-run third inning boosted it to a commanding 15-0 win over Syracuse (19-11, 1-8 ACC). The inning marked SU’s most runs and hits allowed in a frame this season, limiting any chance of it making a comeback.
“I think it’s just taking everything with a grain of salt,” SU’s starting pitcher Madison Knight said postgame. “As a (pitching) staff, everyone was trying to be perfect.”
Against a high-powered offense like Clemson, there isn’t a better arm for the Orange to throw than Knight. Entering Sunday, Knight donned a 2.14 ERA while tossing nine complete games, a mark that ranked top-20 in the NCAA.
However, against the Tigers on Friday, Knight’s command wavered. She allowed a season-high eight hits and seven runs.
“I just needed to be better,” Knight said after Friday’s defeat. “This is a game, and sometimes it rewards you with all your hard work, and sometimes it punches you in the face.”
In an attempt to regain her dominant ways after Friday’s misstep, Knight faltered again, especially in the third inning.
After two scoreless frames where Knight allowed two hits, SU’s momentum matched Clemson’s. However, the Orange’s energy quickly faded as Knight returned to the mound for the third inning.
Alex Brown, Clemson’s leadoff hitter, was at the dish. She quickly singled up the middle before Maddie Moore hit into a fielder’s choice to shortstop Jadyn Burney. With Moore on first base and one away, Syracuse was in a minimal-stress situation.
The stakes quickly rose, though, as Knight walked Julia Knowler and Macey Cintron, a rarity with Knight’s 32 walks in 80 innings thrown thus far this season.
“I think when you start getting tight and tensing up, that’s when it goes to crap,” Knight said of her inconsistent command.
The free passes made it the third straight inning Syracuse dealt with a runner in scoring position. And despite the Tigers not capitalizing before, this time was a different story.
Aby Vieira started things with a bloop single over Angie Ramos’ head at second base, plating Moore. Clemson then poured on the runs, scoring two more on a Marian Collins single into right field. Syracuse had a chance to allow just one run on the knock, but Taylor Posner’s bobble gave the Tigers a second.
Collins’ hit halted Knight’s day, as she was pulled for her shortest start of the season (2.1 innings pitched). Julianna Verni, SU’s other typical starter, came in to relieve Knight. And despite her consistent dominance, Clemson gave her troubles, too.
After allowing eight hits and four runs on Saturday, Verni picked up where she left off Sunday. The first pitch she threw scooted away from Laila Morales-Alves, quickly extending the Tigers’ lead to 4-0.
Following the wild pitch, Kylee Johnson went to the opposite field for a no-doubt home run. SU looked deflated. In minutes, it’d gone from a 0-0 ballgame to a 6-0 deficit.
But Clemson felt no condolences. It wasn’t done offensively, and it hoped to escape Skytop Softball Stadium in five innings, needing just two more runs to get there.
Ava Wilson walked and advanced to second base on another wild pitch from Verni. There was still one out, and Jamison Brockenbrough, who punished the Orange with four RBIs on Saturday, was at the dish.
Verni contained Brockenbrough, striking her out. Still, her command led Wilson to advance to third on a third wild pitch. Then, Brown, who began the inning, was back up to the plate, and this time, she reached again with a walk.
Moore doubled, scoring two following a Ramos defensive miscue, and the Orange were down eight. Finally, Verni got Knowler to ground out, but the damage was done.
While Syracuse’s offense didn’t help it much throughout Sunday’s contest, its abysmal third inning put it at a likely unreachable deficit. However, with 22 games remaining, SU’s staff knows one poor inning isn’t going to define its future.
“From here on out, we’ve got big series that we’ve got to win if we want a shot at the ACC Tournament and shot at NCAAs,” Knight said. “We keep on pushing from here.”
