Knight's Walk-off Homer Beats Irish, 3-2

Sunday, April 19

Syracuse, N.Y.

3 PM

Syracuse University

16-19, 3-12

Notre Dame

19-26, 8-12

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Notre Dame	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	5	1
Syracuse	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	3	5	1

4/19/2026 6:25:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Highlights

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Senior Madison Knight hit home runs in back-to-back plate appearances, including a game-winning, walk-off round-tripper, and the Orange softball team (17-19, 4-12) defeated Notre Dame (19-27, 8-13) 3-2 in the series finale.

Knight's second drive over the wall at the SU Softball Stadium represented the program's first walk-off homer since 2022.

HOW THE GAME WAS DECIDED
With the contest knotted at 2-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh, Notre Dame reliever Kami Kamzik, who entered the contest in the sixth inning, struck out Gabby Lantier. Knight followed and homered to right field to settle the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED
In the top of the first inning, Notre Dame's Mickey Winchell scored on an error to put the Irish up 1-0. The Irish took a 2-0 lead on Hayden Kyne's solo shot in the top of the fourth inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Orange rallied. With one out, Kaimi Tulua delivered a pinch-hit single to left field, Lantier entered as a pinch runner and scored on Madison Knight's two-run home run. The drive to left field, Knight's 11th home run of the spring, tied the game, 2-2.

In the top of the sixth, the Orange escaped a bases-loaded threat with a remarkable double play. Notre Dame's Caitlyn Early tapped back to pitcher Julianna Verni, who fired home to catcher Grace Weaver to force out Ava Zachary. Weaver finished the twin killing by throwing to Knight at first.

Syracuse received another stellar defensive play In the top of the seventh inning. Notre Dame's Avery Houlihan threatned with a deep drive to centerfield. Syracuse's Madelyn Lopez reached over the fence to snag what would have been a home run for the Irish.

OF NOTE

Knight's walk off home run was the first by an Orange player since Angel Jasso connected against North Carolina on May 8, 2022.
Knight became the first player for SU to hit two home runs in a game since Rebecca Clyde swatted two homers on March 11, 2024 against Le Moyne.
Knight drove in all three runs of the game and scored twice.
Knight finished with 10 putouts, equaling her career high.
Verni tossed a complete-game five hitter and picked up her fifth mound victory of the season.
It was Verni's third complete-game mound effort of the campaign.
Verni had five strikeouts, raising her 2025 total to a career-high 84 strikeouts.
Weaver recorded the 100th putout of her freshman season on an impressive 1-2-3 double play.
Madelyn Lopez and Milija Seaton each head doubles for the Orange.

UP NEXT
The Orange will play a road doubleheader against Buffalo on Tuesday, April 21. Syracuse is slated to continue the stretch of away contests when it takes on ACC rival Louisville from Friday, April 24 through Sunday, April 26 on ACC Network Extra.

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