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In the sixth inning with Syracuse up 4-1 and a runner on second base, SU pitcher Lindsey Hendrix was forced to wait in the dugout while an hour-long rain delay ensued. Hendrix had dominated Virginia Tech in the first game of the three-game series and the first five innings of Sunday’s matchup, but the delay threatened to mess up her rhythm.

Still, Hendrix wasn’t fazed. After the tarp was taken off the field, Hendrix surrendered one more run, yet got third baseman Bre Peck to fly out to left field, keeping Syracuse in front 4-2. Hendrix then finished the game strong, only allowing one base runner in the seventh before closing things out.

“During the delay, I was focusing on the fact that I needed just four good pitches, so I think I just tried not to get out of that mindset of being locked in and focused on throwing good pitches,” Hendrix said postgame.

Behind Hendrix’s second complete game in three days, Syracuse (25-21, 7-14 Atlantic Coast Conference) defeated No. 15 Virginia Tech (38-11-1, 18-6 ACC) 6-2. Hendrix allowed zero earned runs and held the Hokies to only four hits during the contest, two of which came in during a tumultuous sixth inning.

In the top of the first, Hendrix shut down the Hokies’ top of the order for a one-two-three inning. She got Emma Ritter to ground out trying to lay down a bunt. Then, Addy Greene flew out to Angel Jasso in center field and Cameron Fagan did the same, this time to left-fielder Olivia Pess.

In the bottom half of the inning, Jasso laced a single to center field off of Virginia Tech starter Cassie Grizzard. Madison Knight then gave SU an early 2-0 lead after she launched a home run to left-center field.

For the next four innings, Hendrix held the Hokies scoreless, only giving up one hit — an infield single to Peck in the second.

SU’s offense remained stagnant during these innings as well, only registering two hits until the fifth — Jasso’s single and Knight’s long ball in the first.

“Being able to hold it down as long as possible just until the offense could figure it out was the goal,” Hendrix said. “I was just focused on getting one out at a time.”

The Orange threatened in the second, loading the bases with one out after Makenzie Foster, Kelly Breen and Rebecca Foster worked walks. This forced the Hokies to make a call to the bullpen, with sophomore Lyndsey Grein being given the ball. Madelyn Lopez was walked to score Pess, but the umpires ruled Pess left third base early and she was called out.

Following another quick inning by Hendrix, highlighted by a diving play by Foster, SU’s offense broke out in the bottom of the fifth. After a leadoff double by Lopez, the Orange increased their lead to 3-0 after an errant throw by Peck forced in a run. Pinch hitter Vanessa Flores drove in the fourth run of the day on a single to left center field.

Hendrix faced some trouble in the top of the sixth, giving up a run on a Jasso error after Fagan ripped a single to center field. Following the score, it started raining heavily, forcing the grounds crew to put the tarp on the field.

Following the delay, Hendrix remained in the game. She immediately gave up a run after Cori McMillan singled to center field. But, she ended the threat after Peck flew out to left field.

In the top of the seventh, Hendrix gave up a leadoff walk to Michelle Chatfield and a bloop single to left by Teagan Thrunk. But from there, Hendrix shut down the Hokies. She got pinch hitter Maija Louko to strike out swinging and Ritter to ground out to third for the final out.

Hendrix’s teammates mobbed her after the game, as SU secured its first ranked series win since beating No. 19 Notre Dame in 2016.

“I’m so proud of (Hendrix) going through the thick, thin, hard and ugly,” Knight said. “We’ve been through a lot together. I think her being able to just stay the course and go with a really hard team and win twice was incredible.”

Published on April 28, 2024 at 6:30 pm

Contact Noah: njnussba@syr.edu | @ Noahnuss99