Syracuse Orange softball drops both games of doubleheader vs. Louisville

Syracuse Orange softball faced off against the Louisville Cardinals on Saturday for a doubleheader in Atlantic Coast Conference action due to Friday’s game being canceled because of expected inclement weather.

Syracuse (10-17-1) came into the doubleheader after playing another doubleheader Sunday against Notre Dame that resulted in ‘Cuse getting its first ACC win of the season.

Lindsey Hendrix got the call to be in the circle for the first game and had a clean first inning after inducing two ground ball outs and striking out Korbe Otis; however, the Cardinals were able to get to Hendrix in the second inning when Taylor Roby led off the second with a double then Mia Forsythe came around to score after pinch-running for Roby after a throwing error by Kelly Breen. Hendrix was able to get out of the inning without allowing any more to score.

The Syracuse bats were quiet until the fourth inning when they got their first hit of the game on a Madelyn Lopez triple, but a base running blunder by Lopez caused her to get thrown out by first baseman Hannah File, allowing Breen to reach first on a fielders choice.

Louisville was able to tack on two more runs in the fifth after a Roby home run and an Easton Lotus RBI single to bring Madison Winkler home. Syracuse Orange softball had its best inning in the game in its half of the fifth. Tessa Galipeau led off the inning with a single and was replaced by Kate Dorazio then Trinity Nichols singled in the next at-bat.

It was a tale of two games for the Syracuse Orange softball offense as it drops both games of a doubleheader to Louisville.

Laila Alves executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Dorazio and Nichols to second and third. Rebecca Clyde came up and hit a base hit, Louisville ended up throwing the ball around a bit, and everyone was able to score. Clyde was able to get an inside-the-park home run.

After all that, the ‘Cuse was only trailing by one at 4-3. Louisville would score in the seventh because of a fielding error by Breen and that would be the final run of the game as Louisville would pick up a 5-3 win in Game 1.

Game 2 of the doubleheader was controlled by Louisville the whole way as the Cardinals kept the Orange bats quiet the whole game and were able to shut them out, 8-0. Madison Knight, who was coming off a 124-pitch, complete-game shutout in the doubleheader against Notre Dame just six days ago, didn’t have her best stuff.

Louisville got to her quickly in the very first inning when Roby put one over the outfield fence with a two-run home run to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead early. Knight was able to keep the bats quiet in the second and third innings; however, Louisville was able to get back on the board when Sarah Gordon hit the Cardinals’ second two-run home run of the game to make it 4-0.

Alyssa Zabala pitched an absolute gem against the Orange, allowing one hit in the shutout. After walking Otis and Gordon in the sixth, Knight was replaced in the circle by Kaia Oliver but that didn’t stop Louisville. After Olivier walked File, Roby would send her second ball in the game, and third of the day, over the fence for a grand slam to make it 8-0.

Syracuse Orange softball was unable to answer in its half of the sixth and the game was over after six. These two teams were expected to finish their series at Skytop Softball Stadium on Sunday beginning at 2 pm, and then the ‘Cuse has a three-game home set against ACC opponent NC State.