Softball Hosts First Home Game Wednesday Versus Emerson

BOSTON – After a rain soaked week, East Boston Memorial Park is set to hosts its first two softball games in history Wednesday afternoon when Emerson travels to Eastie to take on Suffolk for a doubleheader beginning at 3:30 p.m. 

SOCIALIZE
Stay up-to-date with all the latest news and notes on Suffolk Athletics by connecting with the Rams on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Be sure to use the hashtag #RamNation for an insider's look at Suffolk's teams and student-athletes.

SPRING TRAINING TRAVELS
Suffolk threw its first pitch of 2016 with its 21st consecutive spring voyage, visiting Ft. Myers, Florida for 10-games over five days. It was the 14th time in Rams' history that the blue-and-gold took their talents to Ft. Myers, Florida for their spring break trip.  

Since 1995, the Rams have faced 115 different opponents, playing 177 spring training games and coming away victorious in 49 of those contests.

RUN DOWN ON THE RAMS
Suffolk's (7-3) offense exploded for 64 runs over its first 10 contests, including a pair of blowout quintet of blowout wins in Ft. Myers against Brockport (7-1), Wooster (8-0), Augsburg (6-2), Minnesota Morris (5-1) and Knox (15-4). 

A quartet of Rams land among the league's best at the plate boasted behind a pair of freshmen. Evelyn Marquis sits atop the league in on-base percentage (.625) and second in batting average (.550). Jill Pulek, meanwhile, is third in slugging percentage (.714) and on-base percentage (.595), tied for third with a  team-best doubles (4), seventh in runs (9), tied for eighth in batting average (.464), ninth in RBI (8) and tied for 10th in hits (13). Sophomores Delaney Sylvester and Devlin Frost have also marked their places among the GNAC best bats. Sylvester ties Pulek in batting average (.464 - T8) and hits (13 - T10th) and sits in a tie for seventh with on-base percentage (.545) and produces the highest slugging percentage (.607). Frost is eighth in the league in hits (14) and tied for fifth in RBI with a team-high 10. 

Taylor Holmes has accounted for three of the Rams' wins this year, posting a 3-1 record in five starts. She is one of only five GNAC pitchers with a save to her credit and one of six pitchers in the GNAC to throw a shutout this season, a five-inning, five-hitter, 8-0 victory over Wooster March 14. Ali Yamakaitis and Kim Crucioli are each 2-1 in the circle for Suffolk this season. Yamakaitis leads the team in strikeouts with the eighth-most Ks among GNAC twirlers with 14, while Holmes is second on the team with 12. Holmes (2.10), Crucioli (2.27) and Yamakaitis (2.44) sit sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively in the GNAC in ERA. 

LEADING THE GNAC
Nearing the midpoint of the season, the Rams lead the GNAC in four categories, batting average (.361), on-base percentage (.428), batting average against (.245) and sacrifice flies (5).

ROOKIE RECOGNITION
Every week Suffolk has been in action this season a rookie has been recognized with back-to-back GNAC Corvias Rookie of the Week accolades. Jill Pulek earned the distinction March 14, while Evelyn Marquis garnered the honor March 21. 

MORE READING:  Pulek Tabbed GNAC Corvias Rookie of the Week | Marquis Named GNAC Corvias Rookie of the Week

LOOK AT THE LIONS
Emerson got two doubleheaders in last week, sweeping Newbury (11-10/11-8) and falling to Wellesley (6-0/5-3) to bring an 8-10 record into action Wednesday. 

Sophomore Kodie Cash has the top batting average on the Lions' roster at .345. Freshman Kallista Leonardos, meanwhile leads the team in hits (17), extra-base hits (8), including six balls out of the park, and RBI (21). 

Emerson's top-two pitchers are Samantha Corey and Cash. In nine starts and 10 appearances, Corey owns a 5-4 ledger with a 3.90 ERA, striking out 47, allowing 70 hits and 46 runs. In 24 innings of work, Cash is 1-3 overall with a  5.83 ERA and six strikeouts.

COMING UP
Suffolk stays at home Saturday for a twin bill against Johnson State. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m.