Orange Drop Pair of Battles to UNC

Sunday, March 30

Syracuse, N.Y.

10 AM

Syracuse University

21-12, 2-10

North Carolina

27-9, 7-4

North Carolina

Syracuse

3/30/2025 6:13:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Highlights Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Syracuse softball (21-13, 2-10 ACC) dropped both games of a doubleheader to North Carolina (28-9, 8-4 ACC), 11-6 and 10-9 (10 Inn.) on Sunday, losing the series after winning the opener on Friday. The Orange battled back from deficits in both games but fell in the seventh inning of game one and the 10th inning of game two at Skytop Softball Stadium.

HOW IT HAPPENED IN GAME ONE:
North Carolina struck first with an RBI single to take an early lead, but Vanessa Flores responded with a three-run home run in the bottom of the inning to put the Orange ahead 3-1.

The Tar Heels responded quickly, reclaiming a 6-3 lead with five runs on five hits in the top of the fifth inning. The back-and-forth battle continued as the Orange chipped away at the deficit when Taylor Posner reached on an error, allowing Jadyn Burney to score from third.

In the next inning, Kaimi Tulua delivered in a pinch-hit role for the second straight game, following up her two-run go-ahead double on Friday (March 28) with an RBI single to center field that brought home pinch-runner Sophia Taliaferro. Madelyn Lopez then tied the game at six with an RBI single to right.

In the top of the seventh, North Carolina took the lead with an RBI hit-by-pitch, followed by a grand slam that extended the advantage to 11-6, securing the Tar Heels' victory and evening the series.

HOW IT HAPPENED IN GAME TWO:
UNC scored in the first inning for the second-straight game with an RBI single. Syracuse responded once again, as a Posner RBI single tied the game. Laila Morales-Alves then put the Orange ahead with an RBI single, followed by Lopez adding another run with an RBI single of her own.

The Tar Heels started to chip away in the top of the fourth, cutting the deficit to one with an RBI single. They then took the lead with a bases-clearing double, moving ahead 5-3.

UNC extended its lead to five in the top of the fifth with a three-run homer.

Syracuse rallied in the sixth inning, scoring five runs to tie the game at 8-8. Tulua got things started with an RBI single, bringing home pinch runner Lauren Fox. Kelly Breen followed with another RBI single, while bases-loaded walks by Flores and Posner cut the deficit to one. Tessa Galipeau then brought in the tying run with a sacrifice fly.

Neither team scored in the seventh inning, sending the game into extras.

In the top of the ninth, North Carolina took the lead with a solo home run. However, Syracuse responded in the bottom half of the inning as Burney hit a ball to center field that was misplayed, allowing Lopez to score on the error and tie the game.

The Tar Heels hit an RBI single to left field in the top of the 10th, scoring the game-winning run. UNC went on to secure a 10-9 victory and claim the series over Syracuse.

OF NOTE:

Flores had a career-high three hits in game one, including her three-run homer in the top of the first, which ties a personal-best for runs driven in. She added a hit in game two of the twin bill, finishing the day with four hits.
Lopez recorded a pair of multi-hit performances in both losses, her 15^th and 16^th of the season.
Galipeau, Breen, Morales-Alves, and Posner each recorded two hits in one of Sunday's games.
Angie Ramos had five at-bats in game one, while Morales-Alves (6), Burney (5), Posner (5), and Lopez (5) each recorded at least five at-bats in game two against the Tar Heels. The last time Syracuse had a player with at least five at-bats was on April 20, 2024, at Pittsburgh.
Game two was the second extra inning game of the season for 'Cuse. The first came on March 14, 2025, when the Orange fell to Duke in nine innings.
The pair of losses move Syracuse to 12-16 in the all-time series against the Tar Heels.
Game two's duration was three hours and 32 minutes, marking the Orange's longest game of the season.

UP NEXT:
The Orange are set to travel to Georgia Tech next weekend, April 4-6, for a three-game series against the Yellow Jackets. Game one is set for Friday at 6 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.

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