SU rides comeback effort to 8-7 extra-inning victory over Winthrop
Despite Julianna Verni’s early struggles, Syracuse softball rode Madison Knight’s arm and Kaimi Tulua’s bat to an 8-7 eight-inning victory over Winthrop. Daily Orange File Photo
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In its trouncing of Winthrop Saturday, Syracuse didn’t allow any runs until the fifth inning.
That was far from true Sunday. SU allowed five Eagles to score in its first two innings, while just hitting 1-for-7 and getting blanked.
And yet, the Orange overcame those struggles early to outlast Winthrop again Sunday afternoon. A stalwart effort by Madison Knight, Kaimi Tulua’s three-RBI performance and Jadyn Burney’s impressive .500 batting average helped Syracuse (3-2, 0-0 Atlantic Coast) slip past Winthrop (0-3, Big South) 8-7 in eight innings. It was SU’s first extra-inning win since April 10, 2024.
Syracuse’s Julianna Verni opened the bottom of the first on the mound, and the game quickly spiraled from there. Verni walked Annelisa Winebarger and then threw a wild pitch to advance Darrah Nickens to third. Soon after, Tia Beckham reached on a fielder’s choice, sending Nickens home for the Eagles’ first run of the day.
Peyton Bryden stayed on third, and Grayson Buckner sent her home a few minutes later with a single to left field. On the play, Beckham advanced to second and then third on a fielding error. It would set the tone for the next three innings.
In the top of the second, Verni loaded the bases after allowing two singles, a wild pitch and a walk. Bryden stepped to the plate and tripled to right center, bringing Nickens, Rebecca Amos and Emma Roberson home to put the Eagles up 5-0.
The Orange continued to struggle offensively, hitting 2-for-11 through three innings compared to Winthrop’s 6-for-12. Verni came back on the mound to close out the third, but her performance was still incredibly shaky.
In the fourth, SU began to flip the script. After Lauren Fox hit a double and Kendall Gaunt was walked, Tulua — pinch hitting for Gabby Lantier — stepped up to the plate and delivered her first home run of the season to bring the Orange within two runs. Tulua’s homer and three RBIs — along with four putouts — anchored Syracuse throughout a back-and-forth game.
SU’s good fortune wouldn’t last for long, though. In the bottom of the fourth, Verni’s mound struggles were on full display. Her wild pitches sent Bryden to second and third after walking Winebarger. Verni then walked Buckner to load the bases again. Aspen King — pinch hitting for Mili Watts — singled to center field to tack on two more runs for Winthrop, bringing a win further from Syracuse’s grasp.
A back-and-forth battle in the fifth ensued, as SU began to crack the Eagles’ code. Lonna Addison had pitched a 2.03 ERA across the first four innings, but Weaver was hit by a pitch, sending Madison to second. Sophia Taliaferro — pinch running for Vanessa Flores — was sent to third.
With the bases loaded, Fox sent a line drive down the right side, driving in two runs to bring the game within two again.
Syracuse carried the momentum through the sixth, when Madison grounded to third and sent Madelyn Lopez home to make it a one-run game.
Mackenzie Knight and Burney advanced to second and third, respectively, both in scoring positions with one out. Mila Seaton seized her moment, grounding out and sending Burney home to tie the game.
Madison relieved Verni to close out the game. Once again, she remained unfazed and carried her team through. Madison pitched two consecutive strikeouts, then Winthrop’s Beckham flew out to center and closed the inning in three batters.
The seventh inning wasn’t enough for the Orange to escape with a win, as the game moved into an additional eighth inning with the teams deadlocked. With Emmy Cardenas on the mound for the Eagles, Burney singled to center field, then stole second.
Mackenzie stepped up for her first at-bat of the game and grounded out as Burney advanced to third. Finally, with Madison on first and Burney on third, Seaton reached on fielder’s choice and Burney scored, putting Syracuse up by one. Burney finished a stellar day batting .500 and scoring two runs.
Madison was sent back to the mound to close out the game. After Bryden popped up to end Winthrop’s threat, Madison secured her second win of the season, finishing with zero hits, three strikeouts, and two walks.
Unlike Saturday’s dominance, where SU controlled the game from the first pitch, Sunday’s victory required a different kind of resilience. The extra-inning win proved that even when things hit the fan, the team can find a way to win.
It’s a valuable lesson Syracuse needs before next weekend’s Bevo Classic, where it will face Texas — the defending national champions — in a game with no room for mistakes.
