Madison Knight’s 2-way dominance propels Syracuse over Boston College
Madison Knight’s two-way dominance propelled SU to victory over BC Friday. She pitched her 15th complete game and tallied three hits. Angelina Grevi | Staff Photographer
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When Madison Knight plays well, Syracuse often wins. It’s a trend that’s stayed true through Knight’s three seasons with the Orange, sporting a winning record in the circle in 2023 while amid another one in 2025.
But what makes Knight so dominant is her two-way ability. After three seasons at Patterson Mill High School, Knight was the No. 1 class of 2022 recruit in Maryland, earning All-American First Team honors with a whopping 0.83 ERA and .516 batting average.
She’s continued to exhibit her presence in the circle and at the plate since arriving at SU, notably in 2025. Entering Friday, she tallied 14 complete games and three home runs.
Against Boston College (21-24, 5-14 Atlantic Coast), Knight’s dominance was on full display as Syracuse (25-19, 4-15 Atlantic Coast) cruised to a comfortable 7-1 win. The pitcher went the distance while collecting eight strikeouts, a single-game season high in ACC play. She also tallied three hits, her first time doing so since April 22, 2023, against Lafayette.
“Today was fun. Up at bat, I was having fun. Pitching, I was smiling. We just rode the wave,” Knight said postgame.
Knight was a key reason SU started the season with a program-best 11-0 record. She began the campaign with a commanding 6-1 record, holding five complete games through just seven outings.
At the plate, Knight’s control wasn’t as visible, but she still walked five times in her first four games, regularly providing the Orange with a power boost with her team-leading three home runs.
However, as SU’s momentum faded with a 4-15 ACC record, Knight’s level of play did, too. In three of her last four conference outings, she allowed four-plus runs. Each of those games has resulted in a Syracuse loss.
Friday, Knight had a chance to return to her winning ways against BC, one of the ACC’s bottom dwellers. Right from the first pitch, she did just that.
As Friday’s contest began, Knight’s wizardry struck out BC’s Emma Jackson. Knight then forced two groundouts, escaping the first inning unscathed.
After Syracuse scored in the bottom half, BC countered with a run of its own in the second. Knight allowed a bloop double into left field that Gabby Lantier mistimed. Janis Espinoza provided the equalizer with a line drive single up the middle. It looked as though Knight’s dominance was waning after just one inning of work.
But after escaping with minimal damage, a leadoff at-bat showed Knight’s skill. Syracuse has struggled with leadoff chances this season; Knight flipped the script.
Facing a two-strike count, she clubbed Kelly Colleran’s offering over the left field fence. The early-inning spark led to a four-run frame for the Orange, providing Knight with a 5-1 cushion to work with back in the circle.
“From a pitching standpoint, you like pitching with the lead,” Knight said. “It’s a big sigh of relief knowing we have our bats, and we can rely on our offense if our defense can’t get it done.”
Knight’s time away from the dish didn’t last long. After SU’s dominant second inning, she was set to hit second in the third. On the first pitch she saw, she blasted a single into center field. The Orange’s Angie Ramos followed with a double play, but Knight’s contributions continued to propel the Orange.
In the circle, she again retired BC in order throughout the third and fourth innings. Knight had four strikeouts and two hits, but Syracuse’s victory was far from sealed. After crumbling late against North Carolina and Cornell, SU had to keep its foot on the gas to pull away.
Knight took matters into her own hands. In the fifth inning, she struck out two of the three batters she faced. The 5-1 lead looked secure, but SU could have used insurance.
After SU Vanessa Flores, Taylor Posner and Tessa Galipeau all reached base, Knight was due up with just one out. Facing Bailey Kendziorski — who was named to Softball America’s 2025 Freshman Watchlist — Knight scorched a one-hopper off the glove of shortstop Gator Robinson.
Lantier crossed home, giving Knight multiple RBIs for the first time in a game since Feb. 23 against Appalachian State.
She completed the sixth and seventh innings, allowing just two base runners in the circle, which sealed Syracuse’s first ACC win since April 5 against Georgia Tech. On a night when Syracuse needed a spark, Knight gave them fire — at the plate, in the circle and with every pitch in between.
“Motion to the ocean. That’s literally what we’ve been saying all year. So, just go on with the vibe and (we) just brought it (today),” Knight said.
