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In the bottom of the second inning against Florida State, Syracuse’s offensive successes seemed to never come to an end. Despite entering the inning trailing 3-1, SU flipped the script entirely, scoring eight runs and taking a 9-3 lead, one that it never surrendered the rest of the way.

“I think everyone is locked in,” Syracuse designated player Taylor Posner said postgame. “They (Florida State) came out scoring and getting on the ball, and we just thought we got to jump on them. We got to do some damage.”

In the regular season finale, Syracuse (28-22, 9-15 Atlantic Coast Conference) mounted a lofty comeback after conceding three runs in the top of the first inning and responded with a tie for a season-record of runs in an inning with eight in the second frame, upsetting No. 14 Florida State (41-13, 19-5 ACC) 13-5 in five innings. With the series win, the Orange secured a spot in the 2024 ACC Softball Championship.

The Seminoles began the game with a three spot in the first inning in large part due to a big fly by FSU’s catcher. Kaley Mudge led off the game and reached first base on an error from Makenzie Foster. Mudge then moved to second after Jaysoni Beachum’s single. Syracuse retired two batters but Florida State’s Michaela Edenfield slammed a three-run homer to left field to take an early 3-0 lead.

But the Orange quickly fought back. Madelyn Lopez stepped up with a single to start the offense for SU. With a ground-out by Angel Jasso, Lopez advanced to second. Battling with the FSU pitcher Allison Royalty, Posner knocked a single down the left field line in a full count and scored Lopez, helping the Orange cut the deficit to two.

Following a flyout from Foster in the bottom of the second inning, Kelly Breen reached first on a single. Olivia Pess utilized a bunt play to get on base, moving Breen to second. Syracuse then loaded the bases as Rebecca Clyde forced a walk. Gabby Lantier, who subbed in for Breen as a pinch runner, came home after Lopez hit a single to right field. Pess then scored to tie the game as Jasso hit a single.

The offensive stretch continued when Posner put the ball in play. Posner reached on a throwing error by second baseman Devyn Flaherty and advanced all the way to third. On the play, Jasso, Lopez and Clyde all scored. Madison Knight then walked to make it first and third with one out. Laila Morales-Alves capitalized with a three-run home run to right field, establishing a six-run lead over the Seminoles.

Florida State attempted to reduce its deficit in the top of the fourth inning. Amaya Ross knocked a bouncing single and moved Hallie Wacaser to second. With bases loaded, Mudge’s subsequent single generated two RBIs to cut SU’s lead to 9-5.

But Syracuse responded with more offense.

After Morales-Alves and Breen recorded outs, Foster reached on a walk. Pess singled to right center field and Foster moved to second. Clyde drove in Foster then Lopez singled to send Pess home. Jasso then launched a double to right center field and scored Lopez and Clyde, extending Syracuse’s lead to 13-5.

Lindsey Hendrix helped Syracuse secure the game on the mound with a complete effort. She retired Kalei Harding, Isa Torres and Edenfield in order, earning her second win on the mound this weekend and closing out SU’s upset victory.

“We’ve been saying for the past couple of weeks ‘why not us?’ Why can’t we be the ones to do this? Why can’t we get ourselves a swarm and do all this? It can be us,” Posner said.

Published on May 4, 2024 at 5:31 pm