MILTON, MASS. – The Suffolk softball team closed its non-conference, regular-season in thrilling fashion Wednesday afternoon as the Rams swept Curry, extending its win streak to nine and tallying wins 30 and 31 of the season.
Suffolk became just the third team in the program's 32-year history to exceed 30 wins in a single season and the first group of Rams to do so in a decade as it won the opener, 7-4, and took the closer 6-1 in six innings. At 31-7 overall, Suffolk is one win shy of tying the program's record of 32 victories set by the 2006 squad that went 32-10.
GAME 1: SUFFOLK 7 CURRY 4
With two outs, Devlin Frost drew a walk and Jill Pulek singled up the middle to keep Suffolk's offense going in the top of the first. Delaney Sylvester, made the most of her first at bat of the day as she bombed a home run over the center field fence to quickly make it a 3-0 Suffolk game. The junior's seventh homer of the season puts Sylvester in a tie for fifth on the Rams' single-season home run list, as well as the career list with the catcher bumping her career total to 11.
Curry (13-25) responded in the bottom of the inning also with two outs. Marissa Bruno led off with a double to left, but two outs followed to keep her at second. Rachel Bryd would not strand her, however, as the third baseman knocked a single to right to score Bruno and cut the Rams' lead to two, 3-1.
Similar to the first, a walk got the blue-and-gold's offense going in the second with Madison Eucalitto taking first with one out. McKenzie McGrath's ground out to the Colonels' shortstop put Eucalitto in scoring position, before the Rams' second baseman moved to third on a passed ball. Curry made the move at Eucalitto coming home on Meredith Ball's at-bat, but missed the opportunity letting Suffolk go back in front by three, 4-1, on a fielder's choice.
The hosts cut Suffolk's lead to one in the bottom of the inning. With the bases loaded and no outs, Bruno shot a second to second that scored Carolyn Lynch and Morgan Bogardus. Taylor Holmes and the Rams' retired the Colonels from there to hold onto a 4-3 edge.
A quiet 2.5 innings ensued, before Curry made things interesting in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and runner on second, Kevi Oatway's single to center plated April Adams to level the playing field 4-4.
The score would not stay tied for long, however, as the Rams scored the go-ahead run on a Colonels' error in the next inning. Suffolk would add two insurance runs in the top of the seventh thanks to a RBI single from Sylvester that scored Evelyn Marquis and a fielders choice that allowed Frost to come in to put Suffolk in front, 7-2.
The Rams gave up one hit - a single - in the bottom of the seventh, but held them to secure their 30th win of the season.
Five different Rams put together two-hit games with Sylvester's 4 RBI, one-run performance leading the way. Holmes held down the circle for Suffolk, throwing a complete game, her seventh of the season and improved to 11-1. The sophomore righty allowed four runs on eight hits and struck out five.
GAME 2: SUFFOLK 6 CURRY 1 - 6 INNINGS
Four hits - 1 by Suffolk, 3 by Curry - scattered the first four innings as a true pitcher's duel took place between Kim Crucioli and Rebecca Black.
Karina Miranda's two-out, single broke open the scoreless contest in the top of the fourth. The freshman's single flew up the middle to bring home Pulek, who singled to get on and was moved to second on a sac bunt by Sylvester. Classmate Jaclyn Flint followed with an identical single RBI to score Miranda and give Suffolk a 2-0 lead.
Curry changed its zero on the scoreboard to a one in the bottom of the inning. Similar to the Rams, the Colonels waited until two outs were on the board to make their move. Oatway singled to get things going and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Oatway came in on Korona's triple, but the Rams' managed to keep the tying and go-ahead run, Jordan Lizotte, who walked, on base as the ended the inning with a 1-run lead intact.
Back-to-back singles from Sylvester and Lindsay Pagano gave Suffolk a 4-1 cushion in the top of the fifth, before two straight Colonels' errors gave the Rams' a 6-1 advantage.
Scoreless sixth came on either end and the score was called due to inclement weather to mark Suffolk's ninth-straight victory.
Sylvester's two-hits led the Rams at the plate, while four different Suffolk players had one RBI each. Crucioli tossed a complete game inside the circle, allowing one run on seven hits and fanned five. The junior pitcher moves to 8-2 on the year.
Suffolk, who is the top seed, will return to action Friday afternoon in the GNAC Tournament at East Boston Memorial Park. The Rams await their opponent for a 4:30 p.m. game.