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Madison Knight stepped to the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning with runners on first and second as Syracuse trailed 1-0. SU’s offense had struggled all game, only registering one hit until then. Yet Knight was afforded a golden chance to put runs on the board.

But all Knight did was hit a weak pop fly to second base for the second out of the inning. The threat was ended when Laila Morales-Alves lined out to shortstop.

Unlike its past two series wins over then-No. 15 Virginia Tech and then-No. 14 Florida State where it averaged more than seven hits per game, Syracuse’s (28-23, 9-16 Atlantic Coast Conference) offense faltered. For just the fifth time this season, the Orange were shut out as they fell 1-0 to Boston College (30-23, 10-15 ACC) in the first round of the ACC Tournament. Facing Third-Team All-ACC starting pitcher Abby Dunning, Syracuse registered just two hits and went 0-for-6 with runners on base as its season came to an end.

For the first three innings, the game remained hitless. During this time, Syracuse starter Lindsey Hendrix, who was dominant against the Hokies and the Seminoles, kept BC off balance.

Syracuse, though, fared the same against Dunning. In the first, Angel Jasso reached base after a catcher’s interference before advancing to second on a passed ball by BC catcher Hannah Slike. Knight then lined the ball sharply down the third base line but was robbed of an RBI double by third baseman Nicole Giery.

In the second, SU again got a one-out baserunner after Makenzie Foster worked a walk. But nothing came of it after Foster was thrown out trying to steal by Slike, who leads the ACC in runners caught stealing (15).

Another runner reached base for Syracuse in the third when Rebecca Clyde was hit on her wrist by a pitch. Yet Eagles shortstop Gator Robinson made a shoestring catch on a Madelyn Lopez line drive and Jasso grounded out, keeping the game scoreless.

Slike provided the first hit of the game when she doubled into the left-field gap to lead off the fourth. Giery immediately followed with another double to score Slike for the first and only run of the game.

Syracuse’s offense was retired in order in the bottom of the frame, keeping the momentum with BC. Taylor Posner fouled out to first baseman Makenna Segal, followed by a lineout to left by Knight before Laila Morales-Alves flew out to Zoe Hines in deep left to end the inning.

The Eagles threatened again in the fifth, started by a single to center field from Hines. Hines reached second after Hendrix threw the ball into center on a comebacker from Kali Case. Both of these runners were then stranded when Giery grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

It was another frustrating inning for the Orange in the bottom half. It looked like they would get their first hit when Foster reached base on an infield single, but she was ruled to be out of the box when she hit the ball. Two batters later, Olivia Pess finally ended the no-hitter with an infield single.

Pess then stole second on a ball in the dirt by Dunning. But SU again failed to capitalize, ending the inning with a Clyde strikeout.

In the sixth, Hendrix struggled, allowing a single to Jordan Stephens and a walk to Jules Shields. This forced Syracuse head coach Shannon Doepking to pull Hendrix, putting in right-hander Jessie DiPasquale. DiPasquale ended the threat, getting Segal to strike out looking on an off-speed pitch.

The Orange had their biggest scoring opportunity of the day in the bottom of the sixth. Lopez and pinch-hitter Vanessa Flores both worked walks, putting pressure on Dunning for the first time in the game. This momentum was soon squashed when Knight popped out to Jackson at second and Morales-Alves lined out hard to Robinson.

DiPasquale forced a one-two-three inning in the top of the seventh, capped off by a groundout to first by Slike. This sent the game to the potential final half inning, with Syracuse’s season on the line.

To start the frame, pinch hitter Angie Ramos, who walked off Florida State Friday, flew out to Case in center. Kelly Breen gave SU some life after she blooped a single to center field — only the second hit of the day for the Orange. Pess then struck out swinging on an inside screwball from Dunning before the final out was recorded when Clyde grounded out sharply to Giery at third.

The loss marked the first time since 2021 that Syracuse did not win an ACC Tournament game. Situational hitting proved to be the biggest problem for SU in the contest, as it did not get a single hit with runners on base all day.

Published on May 8, 2024 at 4:53 pm

Contact Noah: njnussba@syr.edu