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Jessie DiPasquale hadn’t pitched since April 24, in a 4-1 win over Le Moyne. But when Syracuse faced Cornell on Wednesday, DiPasquale got the start in the circle.

DiPasquale emphasized that the long layoff was not a hindrance to her performance — it was instead, a point of confidence.

“We throw bullpens every day,” she said. “So it was a calm setting today. (I just had to) take what I do in the bullpen and take it out there (to the field).”

DiPasquale’s performance in the circle boosted Syracuse (26-21, 7-14 Atlantic Coast Conference) to a 4-0 victory over Cornell (7-27, 4-14 Ivy League). Like her performance against Le Moyne, DiPasquale struck out eight batters. The graduate student allowed only one hit and walked just two batters against Cornell on her way to her first career complete-game shutout since April 28, 2023 against George Washington.

“(DiPasquale) was really putting some mustard on the ball today,” said Syracuse third baseman Rebecca Clyde. “…Nobody was pulling the ball, so I was just sitting there looking pretty at third — which is always nice when you have a pitcher who is able to throw it by hitters.”

DiPasquale started the game by retiring all three Cornell batters she faced. Kate Callaway struck out swinging, Ella Harrod popped out and Lauren Holt flew out for the Big Red.

In the second inning, DiPasquale struck out the first two Cornell batters, but conceded her first walk to Sydney Stapf. DiPasquale then rallied to force Lilly Travieso into a groundout to end the inning.

DiPisquale pointed out that walks were something she was working on and her tally of two Wednesday was the lowest she’s allowed in a game this season when she’s pitched more than six innings.

Cornell’s first and only hit of the game came in the top of the fourth inning, when Holt tripled to right field.

“It was frustrating knowing how close I was to a no-hitter,” DiPasquale said. “I knew that (the pitch) was something she could hit. So I knew if I went back to my hard stuff, I would be successful.”

But DiPasquale kept her shutout intact when the Big Red’s Maddie Ullensvang hit a fly out to Madelyn Lopez, who fired the ball from the outfield to home plate. Lopez’s throw was on time and Taylor Davidson applied the tag to Holt at home plate for a double play to wrap up the inning.

In the top of the fifth, DiPasquale forced all three Cornell batters to strike out swinging. But the putaways did not come easy. Cornell’s Hailey Pirkey reached a full count after DiPasquale threw three consecutive balls, but DiPasquale struck her out on the payoff pitch. DiPasquale recorded her fifth strikeout after Stapf forced a full count. For her sixth strikeout, DiPasquale retired Travieso to end the fifth inning.

“Walks have been a big issue,” said DiPasquale. “It was just about making sure I get myself out of right and focusing on what we work on in the bullpen.”

DiPasquale’s game ended like it started: with a strikeout. In the top of the seventh, Pirkey reached a full count, but, once again, DiPasquale retired the batter to seal the win for Syracuse. DiPasquale’s eighth and final strikeout tied a career high.

“If a bad pitch came, the next one was going to be a good pitch,” Madison Knight said. “(DiPasquale) did a really good job of overcoming obstacles and she did it really quickly.”

The win improves DiPasquale’s record to 4-3 on the season. After her 91-pitch performance, DiPasquale said she feels good on the mound and confident heading into a series with Florida State. The Seminoles have a potent offense and sit at the top of the ACC with just three conference losses in 2024.

“FSU and their hitters are pretty powerful,” DiPasquale said. “It is just about using our stuff the best we can. If we played the way we played against Virginia Tech and what we do in the bullpen every day, I think we would be fine. We are just going in there with a silent confidence about us.”

Published on May 1, 2024 at 8:01 pm

Contact Nicholas: njalumka@syr.edu