Orange Fall to NC State
3/29/2026 4:55:00 PM | Softball
SYRACUSE, N.Y.- The Orange softball team (11-14, 0-7) fell to NC State (21-14, 3-5) in both games of Sunday's doubleheader. Syracuse lost to the Wolfpack 5-1 in the first game, and 10-0 in five innings in the second game.Â
GAME 1
The Orange came out strong with a double play at the top of the first inning. Erika Zamora picked up a ground ball to finish the play with an out at third base and first base.  After getting hit by a pitch, Jadyn Burney reached first base, eventually stealing second base. After an error by NC State's Morgen Talley, Burney scored.Â
In the third inning, the Orange held the Wolfpack to just two runs. After NC State's Livingston and Townsend scored, Syracuse's Madison Knight threw a strike and caught a grounder to slow down the Wolfpack offense. To get the Orange on offense, catcher Grace Weaver threw out Makayla Marbury.Â
The Orange and Wolfpack exchanged defense-heavy innings with no runs from either team in the fifth and sixth innings.Â
The seventh inning started out with a deep centerfield two-run home run by the Wolfpack's Kendall Simmers.  After the Pack made it 5-1, the Orange held them with a combination of a strikeout by Knight and a pop-fly out. The Orange fell to the Wolfpack 5-1 in the first game of the day.Â
GAME 2Â Â
The second game of the day ended after five innings with the Wolfpack winning 10-0. The Orange put three different pitchers on the mound, starting with Julianna Verni who threw 37 strikes. Sydney Jackson came in at the top of the fourth inning and threw seven strikes, as Jackie Pengel finished the game throwing 15 strikes.Â
On the defensive side, the Orange were able to complete crucial plays. Burney helped the Orange only face three batters at the top of the second inning. After grabbing a grounder and quickly heading to second base, she turned two to get NC State's Carly Short out. Â
The second double play of the day came from Julianna Verni who snagged a ball that was hit right back at her. She threw to first base and the first baseman Madison Knight turned to tag out the runner trying to advance home. Â
Syracuse held the Wolfpack scoreless in the fifth, but NC State had already built a 10-0 lead through the first four innings.Â
OF NOTEÂ Â
- Madison Knight threw a complete game in the first matchup, her fourth this season. Â
- Vanessa Flores led the team in putouts in the first game, tallying five at first base.
UP NEXTÂ
The Orange will face Pittsburgh for a three-game ACC series on the road from Thursday, April 2 through Saturday, April 4. All games will be held at Vartabedian Field and will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
For complete coverage of Syracuse softball, follow us on Facebook (/cusesb), X (@CuseSB) and Instagram (@cusesb).Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Talley, Morgen (9-4)
L: Knight, Madison (7-5)
Batting:
2B: Massey, Taryn 1
HR: Simmers, Kendall 1 ; Livingston, Lily 1
RBI: Simmers, Kendall 2 ; Livingston, Lily 2 ; Short, Carly 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Marbury, Makayla 1 ; Simmers, Kendall 1 ; Livingston, Lily 2 ; Townsend, Maia 1
SB: Townsend, Maia 1
CS: Marbury, Makayla 1

Base Running:
RUNS: Burney, Jadyn 1
SB: Burney, Jadyn 1 ; Gaunt, Kendall 2
CS: Taliaferro, Sophia 1
HBP: Burney, Jadyn 1 ; Eubanks, Kaylee 1
















