Julianna Verni’s 13 strikeouts fuel Syracuse’s gritty 4-1 win over BC
Despite entering Friday with a 6.20 earned run average, Julianna Verni’s career-high 13 strikeouts guided Syracuse to a 4-1 win over BC. Zabdyl Koffa | Contributing Photographer
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Julianna Verni made Boston College look foolish on April 27, 2025. In Syracuse’s 5-1 win over BC, Verni tossed a complete game, surrendering just one run while striking out five. It was Verni’s fifth complete game of the season, and it propelled the Orange to their first Atlantic Coast Conference sweep of 2025.
Since that masterclass 348 days ago, however, it’s been all downhill for Verni. This season, especially within ACC play, the senior has been dreadful.
Verni allowed seven runs in a 12-1 loss to then-No. 10 Florida State on March 13. She gave up another six before recording a single out two days later against the Seminoles. Then seven runs in just three innings against NC State on March 29. Entering Friday, she had a 6.20 earned run average.
But with an 11-27 Boston College team on the docket, Verni had a prime opportunity to recapture her magic from last year.
She did just that. Verni’s career-high 13 strikeouts guided Syracuse (13-16, 2-9 ACC) to a gritty 4-1 win over BC (11-28, 2-11 ACC) Friday. Despite falling two outs short of a complete game, Verni maneuvered out of multiple jams to keep the Eagles’ offense at bay. Madison Knight’s three-run homer in the seventh inning put the Orange on top for good, and she closed the door in the bottom of the frame.
Friday’s test didn’t seem very strenuous on paper for Verni. The Eagles’ offense entered with the fourth-fewest hits in the ACC (281), fourth-fewest home runs (30) and fewest walks (109) this season. BC had five hitters batting over .300 entering the series, but it’s been plagued by lackluster depth.
After Knight drove in Jadyn Burney with a single in the top of the first, Verni worked out of trouble in the bottom of the frame. While Boston College had runners on the corners with just one out, Verni struck out Adrianna Martinez and Tavye Borders to end the inning.
Verni ran into more difficulty in the second. The senior plunked Janis Espinoza to start the inning before walking Nicole Riddell. But Verni then fanned both Kae DePerio and Sammy Horn to notch six strikeouts in two innings.
The story of the game early was both teams’ inability to produce with runners in scoring position. Syracuse stranded four runners over the first two frames while BC left five on base.
The third inning seemed like it’d finally be smooth sailing for Verni. She struck out Emma Knight before inducing an Abby Ptak popout. Her seven punchouts were already her most since March 8, and the senior was on the verge of retiring the side in order.
But Martinez showed why she’s one of BC’s most prolific hitters. She smoked a ground-rule double over the left field wall that was inches from being a homer, and the Eagles had newfound momentum with two outs.
Yet just as she did all afternoon, Verni made quick work of Borders, striking her out to end the inning. The senior mixed up her velocity throughout the frame, forcing BC’s hitters off balance.
Following another empty inning by SU’s offense, trouble was brewing in the bottom of the fourth. Holly Paharik laced a double before Riddell reached base on Erika Zamora’s errant throw. The Eagles had two runners in scoring position with just one out.
Verni stopped the bleeding.
After fanning DePerio for her 10th punchout of the game, Horn grounded out to end the inning. Verni imploded in similar situations this season before Friday, but she used her diverse arsenal to evade trouble against the Eagles.
Full counts. Hard-hit balls. Strong plate discipline. Boston College was battling.
BC’s fight turned into a game-tying run in the bottom of the fifth. While Verni struck out Martinez, her wild pitch enabled Emma Knight to score and make it 1-1 soon after. But the senior fittingly followed the wild pitch with a strikeout.
The Eagles threatened yet again in the sixth. Espinoza reached base on a misplayed ground ball by Burney, and Verni fell behind 3-0 in the count to Paharik. But SU’s pitcher fought back, tossing three straight strikes to record her career-high 13th strikeout.
In the top of the seventh, Syracuse finally broke through. Following a Gabby Lantier single and Burney walk, Madison Knight hit a towering three-run homer to put SU up 4-1. Power hitting has been Syracuse’s forte through ACC play, and her team-leading ninth home run put the Orange in the driver’s seat.
Doepking pulled Verni after 134 pitches and 6.1 innings. In came Knight, who worked around two baserunners to give SU its second conference win.
It wasn’t a totally clean outing for Verni. Boston College is an ACC bottomfeeder. But between striking out batters after being down 3-0 or inducing groundouts in key spots, the Orange’s ACC Tournament chances will skyrocket if Verni can sustain even half of her success Friday.
