It was a tale of two games in Vestal, N.Y., on Wednesday when Syracuse Orange softball took on the Bearcats of Binghamton University in a doubleheader. Madison Knight got the ball in game one and Lindsey Hendrix got the ball in game two.
The ‘Cuse bats woke up early as they were able to get on the board with two RBI singles from Angel Jasso and Laila Alves, as they were able to get to Sophia Pappas quickly with a 2-0 lead after one inning.
Binghamton was able to quickly answer in its half of the first with an RBI double off the bat of Brianna Santos. Knight was able to get out of the inning after Alli Richmond grounded out to end the inning.
Pappas and Knight were going back-and-fourth, both of them pitching scoreless second and third innings until Binghamton got a run in the fourth with a Hailey Ehrles RBI single that scored Richmond to tie the score at two apiece.
The Orange would quickly answer back in the fifth, however. After Tessa Galipeau was hit by a pitch, Jasso would get a single, advancing Jasso to second. Then, Knight would single and advance to second, moving Jasso to third and scoring Galipeau.
Secured the W in game 1⃣ of the doubleheader!
— Syracuse Softball (@CuseSB) April 19, 2023
🔶Knight throws a complete game and ties her career-high in strikeouts with seven
🔶Alves leads 'Cuse at the plate with 2 RBIs
Back soon for game 2⃣ pic.twitter.com/YQyDGc8i4U
In the next at-bat, Alves would hit a single down the right-field line, scoring Jasso but Knight would get thrown out at home trying to score. In the end, though, the ‘Cuse regained the lead. Knight was able to shut down the Bearcats for the rest of the game as the Syracuse Orange would prevail, 4-2.
Syracuse Orange softball went 1-1 in a doubleheader at Binghamton.
Game two was a completely different outcome. Just like in the first game, the Syracuse Orange jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning as Kelly Breen took Lindsey Walter deep. Hendrix was able to shut Binghamton down in the first few innings; however, the floodgates would open in the fourth inning.
Sarah Rende would hit a one-out double, Santos would walk, and Pappas would get hit by a pitch. Emma Lawson would pinch-hit for Ehlers and would rip a two-run single to left that would give Binghamton the lead.
Gabby Guerrero would then unload a three-run home run to increase Binghamton’s lead to 5-1. The Syracuse Orange was able to get two runs back in the fifth as Galipeau would connect on a two-run home run to cut the deficit to two runs.
Walter was able to get out of the inning without allowing any more runs to score. Hendrix was replaced in the circle by Jackie Pengel in the sixth. Pengel gave up a walk to Laney Harbaugh to start the inning then gave up a single to Walter. After a walk to Sarah Rende, Santos would deliver a two-run single, extending the Bearcats’ lead, 7-3.
Pengel was able to get Allison L’Amoreaux on a strikeout swinging, but wasn’t able to get another out as Pappas and Ehlers had an RBI single and double, respectively, to make it 9-3. Pengel faced her final batter after she walked Guerrero and was replaced by Kaia Oliver.
Oliver only faced one batter in Akira Kopec, who hit a double, bringing in Pappas, Ehlers, and Guerrero. That ended up causing the mercy rule as Binghamton scored seven runs in the inning and would beat the ‘Cuse, 12-3, in six innings.
The Syracuse Orange (15-22-1) will return to action this Saturday for another non-conference series with Lafayette in Easton, Pa., starting with a doubleheader. Game one is scheduled for 12 pm and game two is slated for 2 pm. The ‘Cuse and Lafayette will close out their series on Sunday beginning at 12 pm.