Knight Fuels 'Cuse to First ACC Win Over #16 Duke

Saturday, March 15

Durham, N.C.

2 PM

Syracuse University

17-8, 0

Duke

19-9, 0

Syracuse

Duke

Knight Fuels 'Cuse to First ACC Win Over #16 Duke

3/15/2025 4:41:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Highlights

DURHAM, N.C. - Madison Knight delivered her best performance of the season to lead Syracuse softball (17-8, 1-5 ACC) to a 3-2 victory over No. 16 Duke (20-9, 4-2 ACC), securing the team's first ACC win of the season. The junior shined with a complete-game effort in the circle and came through at the plate with a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning, lifting the Orange to their first ranked win since the 2024 campaign.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Syracuse got off to a fast start as Jadyn Burney reached on an error to lead off the game, followed by Madelyn Lopez launching a two-run homer over the right-field fence.

After Lopez's home run, both Duke's Cassidy Curd and Knight settled in, keeping the offenses quiet until the bottom of the sixth, when the Blue Devils tied the game at two with a pair of RBI singles.

Knight showcased her two-way talent in the seventh, leading off with a solo home run to put Syracuse ahead 3-2. The junior then returned to the circle and shut down the Blue Devils in the bottom half, securing the ranked conference win over Duke.

OF NOTE:

Knight delivered a complete-game performance in the circle, allowing just two runs while striking out six without issuing a walk. Her go-ahead home run in the seventh was her third blast of the season and the 13th of her career.
Lopez's two-run homer was her second of the season and sixth of her career. She also recorded her fourth multi-RBI game of the year.
With her 34th career caught stealing in the fourth inning against Duke, catcher Laila Morales-Alves set a new program record, surpassing Jamie Grillo's 33 (2001, 2003-05) for the most runners thrown out in Syracuse history.
Tessa Galipeau recorded a multi-hit game for Syracuse, her fourth outing of the season with at least two hits.
Syracuse's win over No. 16 Duke marks its first ACC victory and first ranked win of the season. It also stands as the Orange's first win over a Power Four opponent this year.
The win over the no. 16 team in the country marks Syracuse's first ranked win since the 2024 season, when it beat No. 14 Florida State on May 4, 2024.
The win move Syracuse to 3-13 all-time in the series against the Blue Devils

UP NEXT:
The Orange make their 2025 debut at Skytop Softball Stadium this week with a five-game homestead. 'Cuse will play a home-opening doubleheader on Wednesday, March 19 against Niagara, before welcoming Clemson for an ACC series from Friday, March 21 through Sunday, March 23.

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