Syracuse Orange softball sweeps Cornell doubleheader, including no-hitter

Syracuse Orange softball had another trip to Southern New York as they recently took on Cornell in a doubleheader. Madison Knight and Lindsey Hendrix both shined in their respective games as both of them would go the distance and Hendrix would go on to throw the Orange’s second no-hitter of the season in game two.

Syracuse and Cornell both went scoreless in the first inning, but ‘Cuse would get on the board in the second inning. Angel Jasso started out the inning with a single and would move to second after a fielder’s choice by Knight and Laila Alves would reach on an error, causing Jasso to move to third.

Taylor Posner would drive in both Alves and Jasso with a two-run double to give the Syracuse Orange a quick 2-0 lead. Knight would then strike out four out of the next nine batters she faced. The Syracuse Orange would get another run in the fourth after an RBI single by Knight. Gabrielle Maday was able to hold the Orange bats scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings.

In the sixth, Ryan Starr would get a run on the board when she had a triple that scored Posner and they would continue to score another run in the seventh when Olivia Pess sent the ball over the wall for a home run as ‘Cuse would take game one, 5-0.

Syracuse Orange softball swept a doubleheader against Cornell.

Game two was another dominant performance from this ‘Cuse team. Just like game one, the Syracuse Orange wouldn’t get a run in the first inning but would get on the board in the second inning when Madelyn Lopez had a bunt single, but an error allowed her to advance to second and Jasso scored.

In the third inning, Tessa Galipeau was hit by a pitch which was followed with a Posner single and her and Galipeau moved up an extra base on an error. Madison Knight got an RBI with a sac fly to right field that scored Galipeau. Mia Burd was able to get out of the inning without allowing more damage when she got Jasso to ground out.

Syracuse would get a run in the fourth when Jude Padilla hit a home run and the ‘Cuse was quickly making game two get out-of-hand as it would be a 3-0 lead over the Big Red. Syracuse’s final runs came in the sixth when three runners came across the plate. The first run came on an RBI single from Galipeau that scored Gabby Lantier. Kate Dorazio and Rebecca Clyde would both score the final runs of the game from errors.

Hendrix was completely dominant in game two as she would throw the program’s 12th no-hitter in history, and the second of the 2023 season. During her performance, she would strike out six batters, walk two, hit one batter, and finish the game with 109 pitches thrown.

Syracuse (20-22-1, 4-12-1 in the ACC) will return to Skytop Stadium on Friday for ACC action to start a three-game set against Virginia (29-18, 8-13). This series will be a very important series as the ‘Cuse is sitting in 11th place in the ACC Conference and only 10 teams are eligible for the post-season tournament, which starts May 10. The Syracuse Orange is roughly two games behind NC State, which holds the 10th and final spot.