BOSTON – Behind solid pitching from Taylor Holmes and solid hitting from Jill Pulek and Delaney Sylvester the Suffolk softball team collected an 8-0 shutout win over Boston Commons neighbor Emerson Thursday night at Rotch field. The win marks head coach Jaclyn Davis' 101 on the Rams' bench making the fifth-year head coach the program's winningest in the 33-year history.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 8, Emerson 0
RECORDS: Suffolk (6-8) | Emerson (4-11)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk started out early with a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Ashley Zulla moved Karina Miranda, who led off with a single, into scoring position to third on a double to center field. The sophomore second baseman scored the first run of the day on a passed ball, before a sac fly from Devlin Frost quickly made it a 2-0 Suffolk game. Jill Pulek rocked her third round-tripper of the season and in as many games to stretch the Rams' edge to three runs.
The score stood at a standstill for the next 2.5 innings and Emerson made things interesting in the bottom of the fourth. The Lions loaded the bases with two outs thanks to a single, walk and Rams' error. Holmes kept her composure and got out of the situation, fanning Marisa DeFranco swinging to keep it a 3-0 Suffolk contest after four complete frames.
Pulek put more distance between the Rams and Lions in the top of the fifth. The sophomore designated hitter went yard for the second time on the night, this time bringing in Ashley Zulla with her to stretch Suffolk's advantage to 5-0.
Suffolk escaped another bases loaded, two out situation in the bottom of the sixth. Holmes sat down eighth batter of the day with Micaela Dix going down swinging to keep the Lions off the scoreboard and the Rams' three-run edge intact.
Delaney Sylvester joined Pulek in the homerun club in the top of the seventh with a three RBI bomb over the left field fence, plating Frost and Pulek, who each singled, for the final 8-0 margin.
PITCHERS PICTURE
- Holmes shoved a complete-game, eight-hit, four-walk, nine-strikeout shutout to pick up the win.
- Kodie Cash tossed a complete-game, allowing eight runs, six earned off 12 hits.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Pulek was perfect at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two dingers to finish with three RBI and three runs.
- Sylvester went 2-for-4 at the plate with one ball over the fence to finish the night with three RBI and one run scored.
- Zulla put together a 2-for-4 outing at the dish and scored twice.
- Evelyn Marquis also went 2-for-4 at bat for Suffolk.
- Frost brought in one run on a 1-for-2 showing at the plate two go along with one run scored.
NOTEWORTHY
- Davis' 101 win puts her atop Suffolk's coaching staff all-time, surpassing Elaine Schwagger's 100 total from 2001-05.
- Pulek is the first Ram in the Davis era and first Suffolk player to register a homer in three straight games dating back to 2010-11 season, according to the game-by-game record book, which begins that year.
- Pulek became the first Suffolk player to knock two homeruns in a single outing since Sylvester produced two bombs in a 9-4 victory over Saint Joseph's (Maine) April 24, 2016. The two long balls in one game match a career-high for the Cheshire, Connecticut product.
- The sophomore designated hitter racked up her career total homers to 12, tying Erin McAndrews on the Rams' career annals list for fifth all-time.
- Sylvester's three RBI bomb moves the junior to a two-way tie for third on the Rams' all-time list with Kathleen Tolson (1998-01) with 13 throughout her career.
- Holmes threw a career-high nine strikeouts in the circle, one looking.
- The complete-game shutout is the second of Holmes' career at Suffolk and first seven-inning complete-game cleansheet.
POST-GAME PIC
UP NEXT Suffolk opens up GNAC action on the road as the Rams head to Rivier Sunday, April 2. The conference twin bill is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch.
