Syracuse Orange Softball: Madison Knight throws no-hitter vs. NC State

Syracuse Orange softball and NC State faced off in their rubber game of a three-game set on Saturday afternoon from Skytop Softball Stadium.

The ‘Cuse was still looking for its first ACC series win of the 2023 season. Madison Knight, who has been dominating on the circle as of late, was coming off a 128-pitch, two-run victory over NC State on Thursday. Her dominance continued just two days later.

Knight was able to get a perfect first inning and recorded a strikeout against Amanda Hasler while getting two pop-outs. The Orange bats were loud early, starting with Madelyn Lopez getting a lead-off single and then advancing to second after a ground out by Tessa Galipeau. ‘Cuse had runners on second and third after a flyout from Angel Jasso.

Knight, a freshman from Baltimore who was also hitting in this game, walked in her first at-bat to load the bases for Jude Padilla. Syracuse Orange softball would take a 2-0 lead with a two-run single by Padilla that scored both Lopez and Kelly Breen, and that’s all the scoring they did after Angie Ramos flew out to end the inning.

Knight would walk Katlyn Pavlick to start the second and then retire the next three hitters, including a strikeout of Libby Whittaker.

Syracuse Orange softball pitcher Madison Knight threw a no-hitter on Saturday.

Syracuse’s half of the second went exactly the way it did in the first. Rebecca Clyde walked to start the inning and Lopez was able to get one over the wall for a two-run home run to double the lead. Later in the inning, the floodgates would open, and ‘Cuse had no signs of slowing down.

After Galipeau was hit by a pitch, Breen would add two more to the lead, making it a four-run inning for the Orange and giving them a 6-0 lead in just the second inning. The rest of the scoring came in the third inning.

After Angel Ramos fouled out to begin the inning, Clyde would hit a double and advance to third on a sac bunt by Ryan Starr. With Clyde on third, Lopez would hit a triple that gave Syracuse Orange softball a 7-0 lead. The ‘Cuse would score its final run of the game when Galipeau hit a single that brought in Lopez.

Knight would catch four of six batters she faced looking on strikes as she would complete her dominance of recent games by throwing a five-inning no-hitter. With the 8-0 victory, this would be Orange’s first ACC series win of the 2023 season.

Syracuse Orange softball (12-18-1, 3-10-1 in the ACC) will be back in action for a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 12, at Albany with Game 1 starting at 2:00 pm and Game 2 at 4:00 pm.