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Syracuse (5-0, 0-0 Atlantic Coast) concluded the University of North Carolina Wilmington Tournament by defeating Le Moyne (0-5, 0-0 Northeast) 4-1. It marks SU’s second win over the Dolphins, leading it to sweep the tournament. The last time the Orange started a season with five straight victories was when they won six straight in 2022.
SU started strong, scoring a run early on in the first inning. With one out, junior Madelyn Lopez hit a double. She then advanced to third on a wild pitch by Le Moyne starter Isabella Kwashek. A sacrifice fly by Kelly Breen scored Lopez, giving the Orange an early lead.
Following the run, Syracuse got two more players on base, Laila Morales-Alves and Madison Knight. But a ground out by Angie Ramos ended its threat.
Lopez hit an RBI single the following inning, scoring Gabby Lantier to double SU’s lead.
Three innings later, in the top of the fifth, Lopez scored again. With the bases loaded, an RBI from Peyton Schemmer brought Lopez home. The Orange tacked on a fourth run when Knight scored on a passed ball.
Syracuse’s starting pitcher, Jackie Pengel, pitched a complete game and shut down the Dolphins in the first four innings. However, Le Moyne scored its only run in the bottom of the fifth when Cianna Benamati hit a home run.
Following a scoreless sixth inning, SU had a scoring threat in the seventh. Sophia Taliaferro singled to left field, advancing Schemmer to second. Ramos advanced to third and tried to score but was thrown out at the plate.
In its last chance to get more runs on the board, Le Moyne couldn’t. Sydney Nesci fouled out, followed by a walk from Benamati. Gabriella Zarcone replaced Benamati at first base. Then Audrey Benderski hit into a double play, ending the game.
It capped Pengel’s career day, allowing one hit, striking out seven batters and pitching all seven innings. Over the course of the entire weekend, all five of SU’s pitchers excelled, allowing only three runs and 15 hits over 35 innings.
Lopez led the team in hits (three) against Le Moyne and ended the weekend with a .600 average, three RBIs and two doubles.
Mississippi State transfer Jadyn Burney hit .417 and scored four runs over the weekend. Schemmer also had an impressive season debut, collecting four hits and four RBIs.
Looking ahead, next weekend, Syracuse will head down to Georgia to compete in the Columbus Classic against Long Island, Tennessee Tech and Army.
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