‘Cuse Downs Buffalo, Walks Off Utah Valley on Georgia Classic Day One

Friday, February 21

Athens, Ga.

10:30 AM

Syracuse University

10-0

Buffalo

1-5

Buffalo

Syracuse

‘Cuse Downs Buffalo, Walks Off Utah Valley on Georgia Classic Day One

2/21/2025 3:55:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

ATHENS, Ga. - The Syracuse softball team (11-0) extended its unbeaten streak to 11 games to open the 2025 season, defeating Buffalo (1-5), 7-0, before securing a 3-2 walk-off victory over Utah Valley (2-9) on day one of the Georgia Classic in Athens.

Syracuse started its Georgia Classic slate with a 7-0 shutout win over Buffalo. Julianna Verni threw a complete game shutout, striking out a career-high 11 batters while allowing four hits and one walk. The Orange offense delivered with Jadyn Burney and Kelly Breen each recording three hits, while Laila Morales-Alves and Breen led the team with two RBIs apiece.

Syracuse then secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Utah Valley, with Morales-Alves delivering a walk-off double to extend the Orange's unbeaten streak to 11 games. Breen put 'Cuse on the board with a two-run double before the Wolverines tied the game at two. Morales-Alves then sealed the win with her game-winning hit. Madison Knight earned her fourth victory of the season in the start.

HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST BUFFALO:
The Orange got on the board early, scoring two runs in the top of the first. In her return after missing The Columbus Classic, Burney led off with a single, followed by back-to-back singles from Madelyn Lopez and Breen to load the bases. Batting in the cleanup spot, Morales-Alves drove in a run on a fielder's choice. Kaila Tulua then grounded out to first, bringing in another run to give Syracuse a 2-0 lead.

Morales-Alves added a run for 'Cuse in the bottom of the third with an RBI single, bringing home Breen after her triple.

The Orange extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs to go up 6-0. Angie Ramos started the inning with a double to right center and moved to third on a fly out by Peyton Schemmer. Tessa Galipeau and Burney then loaded the bases with a walk and a single. Lopez brought in a run with an one-run single, followed by Breen, who drove in two more with a single. Schemmer added Syracuse's seventh run in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run.

Verni delivered a dominant performance against Buffalo, pitching a complete-game shutout in Syracuse's 7-0 victory. The junior recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts while allowing just four hits and one walk, securing the Orange's 10th straight win to open the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST UTAH VALLEY:
After Knight worked her way out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the first inning, the Orange capitalized in the bottom half. Breen delivered a two-run double, bringing home Burney and Lopez to give Syracuse an early 2-0 lead.
Utah Valley responded with a run in the top of the second to trim Syracuse's lead to 2-1. The Wolverines then tied the game at 2-2 in the third with an one-run double. 'Cuse threatened to regain the lead in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases, but couldn't convert with a run.

From that point forward, neither team could break the tie until the bottom of the seventh. Lopez sparked the rally with a single down the left field line, followed by Breen's single to left. Morales-Alves then delivered a walk-off double to left-center, bringing Lopez home and securing a 3-2 victory for Syracuse.

Knight pitched a complete game for the Orange, striking out eight and holding Utah Valley to two runs.

OF NOTE:

Breen had an impressive performance at the plate, going 5-for-8 with four RBIs across both games. The senior drove in two runs in each game and also recorded the first triple of the season for Syracuse in game one against Buffalo.
Lopez had a strong day at the plate, recording a pair of hits in both wins on Friday, marking her seventh and eighth multi-hit games of the season. The junior also scored two runs and drove in another during the doubleheader.
Morales-Alves had a key performance on Friday, collecting two hits, including the game-winning one-run double against Utah Valley. Her seventh-inning double delivered the first walk-off win for the Orange since their victory over No. 14 Florida State on May 3, 2024.
Burney secured her first-ever three-hit game against the Bulls, finishing the day 4-for-7 at the plate with three total runs.
Schemmer sent her second-career home run out of the park against Buffalo, finishing the game 1-for-3 with one run and one RBI.
After recording seven putouts across Friday's pair of games, Galipeau moves into second all-time in putouts in program history, surpassing Nicole Miller's 825 putouts from 2006-09. The senior sits behind Kelly Saco, who holds the program record with 1,184 putouts across the 2009-12 seasons.
Verni had a career performance on the mound in the win over Buffalo, pitching the full seven innings, which matched a personal best, and striking out a career-high 11 batters. She also gave up just four hits and one walk in her fifth win of the season. She is the second Syracuse pitcher to throw a 10+ strikeout outing this season, following Knight's performance against UNCW on Feb. 7.
Knight tossed a complete-game win against Utah Valley, allowing two earned runs, her first of the season, and striking out eight.
'Cuse is now 5-0 this season against fellow New York teams after taking down Buffalo.
After edging both Buffalo and Utah Valley in hits, Syracuse has now outhit their competition in all 11 games this season.

UP NEXT:
'Cuse continues play at the Georgia Classic tomorrow with its first ranked test of the season against No. 9 Georgia. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. with the game airing live on SEC Network+. Fans interested in watching can stream the contest online or in the ESPN app.

For complete coverage of Syracuse softball, follow us on Facebook (/cusesb), Twitter (@CuseSB) and Instagram (@cusesb).