Syracuse Softball drops two to North Carolina after Friday’s win

Rain in upstate New York postponed Syracuse softball’s Saturday contest, but the team returned to action Sunday morning.

On Friday, SU secured a 7-5 win in its series opener against North Carolina. Entering Sunday, the Orange held a 2-8 record against ACC opponents, which worsened as they failed to notch a victory across two games. Despite the losses, head coach Shannon Doepking praised her team’s resilience.

“They just beat us; they did a better job with the big hits,” Doepking said after Game 2. “I think we had opportunity after opportunity, and we just couldn’t get it done. There were some gutsy performances from a lot of people on the Tar Heels, but at the end of the day, they stepped up and had timely hitting. We did not.”

Game 1: UNC’s Power Surge Leads to 11-6 Win

Syracuse used a bullpen approach, starting Julianna Verni before rotating through three additional pitchers. North Carolina starter Britton Rogers pitched 2.2 innings before handing the ball to Lily Parrish, who closed out the game.

UNC’s offense came alive in the second and seventh innings, scoring five runs in each frame. Meanwhile, SU plated at least one run in every inning through the fourth and added another in the fifth but struggled to make solid contact.

The dagger came in the seventh inning when Tar Heels center fielder Sanaa Thompson crushed a grand slam. The Orange put two runners on base in the bottom half but couldn’t capitalize, sealing an 11-6 loss.

UNC won despite playing the final innings without assistant coach Corey Lyon, who was ejected in the fifth inning after arguing an excessive-out ruling.

Game 2: Orange Rally Falls Short in Extras

Syracuse turned to Madison Knight in the circle for Game 2. The right-hander pitched 5.1 innings, allowing eight runs.

The Orange struck early with three first-inning runs, but their offense stalled until a late comeback. Trailing by five in the sixth, SU clawed back to tie the game, forcing extra innings.

In the ninth, UNC second baseman Kat Rodriguez launched a solo home run to left-center, briefly putting the Tar Heels ahead. Syracuse quickly responded to even the score, but North Carolina pulled away in the 10th, securing a 10-9 victory and the Sunday sweep.

“We have to get better,” Doepking said. “We have to clean some things up, do the little things, and get timely hitting.”

Looking Ahead

Syracuse now hits the road for a series against Georgia Tech. The Orange won’t return home until April 25, facing a challenging stretch against ACC opponents. However, the extended road trip allows SU to pick up key conference wins and build momentum ahead of tournament play.