SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse Softball lost 9-0 in six innings against University of California, Berkeley. This was the second of their three game home series against Cal – their final regular season games.
The Orange started the game with pitcher Julianna Verni, who struggled in the first inning. She walked a batter, hit a batter and then gave up a three-run home run in succession. The Orange defense was able to make it out of the inning without giving up any more runs.
Syracuse looked ready to give Cal the same treatment with a great slap bunt from their two-hitter Jayden Burney. But the Orange couldn’t get their hits to connect and left the inning with no runs.
The Orange would hold Cal from scoring again until the 5th inning when the Golden Bears would get four consecutive hits to drive in three runs.
Syracuse brought in Sydney Jackson to pitch in the top of the 6th inning. Before Jackson would settle in, she walked two Cal batters and they were able to score three more runs in the 6th inning.
Syracuse fought until the very end of the game. With two outs in the bottom of the 6th, Gabby Lantier fouled off 6 pitches trying to find her hit. But Lantier eventually popped up to the third baseman, ending the game.
The Orange would turn around immediately to play the Golden Bears the same day at Skytop Stadium, hoping to pull off a win and keep themselves in the running for the ACC Championship.