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Before Saturday, Syracuse softball and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County had never met. This weekend’s matchup at the Terrapin Invitational was an opportunity for SU to open a new chapter against the Retrievers.

The Orange did just that in a statement performance Saturday afternoon. Syracuse (9-6, Atlantic Coast) destroyed UMBC (2-5, America East) 11-1 in five innings. Left fielder Jadyn Burney stole the show at the plate, going 3-for-3 with five RBIs, including a grand slam — her first collegiate home run. It helped boost the Orange to their ninth win of the season.

Burney’s bat — along with the rest of Syracuse’s offense — was on full display early.

As SU’s leadoff hitter, Burney reached first on a bunt, outrunning the throw with a headfirst slide. A few seconds later, she stole second. Peyton Schemmer — pinch running for Harmony Jackson — joined Burney on base a few moments later, then Taylor Davison added on a single that loaded the bases.

UMBC couldn’t stop SU’s momentum, as pitcher Maggie Frisvold walked Madison Knight, sending Burney home to make it 1-0.

The onslaught didn’t stop there. A Vanessa Flores single to left field sent Davison home, and then a Lauren Fox sacrifice fly plated Knight to make it 3-0. Another Frisvold walk sent Gabby Lantier to first, bringing Madelyn Lopez home to put SU up by four and advancing Lopez to third with the bases loaded. It was already SU’s second-most runs in an inning this season.

Then, the lineup turned over. And out walked Burney again. She’d already been the spark that lit SU’s 4-0 burst, and she’d again be the fluid to ignite the explosion.

Frisvold loaded the count to 3-2. Burney stepped back from the plate for a moment, swinging her bat through the air. She settled back in to face Frisvold, squared her shoulders, and connected with Frisvold’s offering, sending the ball hurtling over the right field fence for a grand slam.

Lantier, Kaylee Eubanks, and Flores scored and formed a huddle at home plate, the first three to hug Burney as the rest of SU’s dugout spilled onto the field to mob Burney.

The score after one inning? 8-0 SU. It was the team’s first eight-run inning since May 4, 2024.

The Raiders then swapped Frisvold for Jayda Koontz, who made an immediate impact. Koontz struck out Jackson and closed out a horrific first inning for UMBC.

SU’s dominance continued through the second, however. Jackie Pengel’s third, fourth and fifth strikeouts of the day closed out the top of the second with ease for SU, only allowing an Amaya Carroll double. Pengel ended the day allowing only four hits and a 1.40 game-ERA.

Koontz stabilized the Raiders through the bottom of the second, as only a Knight double on a fielding error managed to provide any momentum for SU. But the third inning proved to be Syracuse’s spark.

Strong fielding closed out the top of the third for SU as it exploded once more in the bottom half of the inning. Fox’s bunt allowed her to reach first — SU’s second successful bunt of the day — and set off a barrage of errors for UMBC. Elena Clark-Wilson, who subbed in for Koontz on the mound, hit Eubanks with a pitch and sent her to first. A wild pitch then sent Eubanks and Fox to second and third, respectively. On the next pitch, Clark-Wilson walked Lantier.

Then came another version of the same story. And there was no one better for the moment than Burney.

Burney kept cool under pressure, perfectly executing another bunt and flying to first, sending Fox home to make it 9-0.

SU continued to pile it on from there. Clark-Wilson hit Jackson with a pitch: 10-0. Davison hit a shallow pop fly to third, and a throwing error by the Raiders’ outfield allowed Lantier to squeeze home, making it 11-0.

UMBC managed to stop the bleeding from there, but it was too little, too late. The Orange seemed to be taking advantage of every opportunity. Pengel’s no-hit fourth inning and efficient fielding closed the top of the fourth in seemingly minutes.

The Raiders tried to battle back through the fifth, but with Pengel back on the mound, there wasn’t much they could do. Pengel had only given up two hits through four innings. Ella Squaires laced a fly ball to left field, but it settled easily into an SU glove. One down, two to go.

UMBC’s Kenzie Nicholson needed to keep her team’s hopes alive. Nicholson landed on second due to an SU fielding error, but moments later Knight made a leaping catch to rob Frisvold of a base hit. Amya Lundy was the Raiders’ last hope, and a rolling infield hit sent Nicholson home to make it 11-1. But it was far from enough.

If UMBC and SU played 10 times, it wouldn’t be the same outcome. It was one of those rare happenings where everything seemed to go wrong for one team, and everything went right for the other.

Last weekend’s loss to Ohio State highlighted Syracuse’s poor run differential. Friday’s loss to Maryland raised questions of SU’s pitching. The Orange nonetheless showed up Saturday and made a statement, finally proving what they’re capable of. Maybe it’ll be a new chapter for the team.

Now, the question is whether or not it can continue through ACC play.

Published on February 28, 2026 at 7:27 pm
Contact Fiona: fmchugh@syr.edu