CLERMONT, Fla. – Big back-to-back innings from Geneseo proved to be too much for Suffolk softball as it could not overcome the deficit and fell, 11-2, in five innings in its season debut Saturday morning at Hancock Field as part of The Spring Games.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2, Geneseo 11
RECORDS: Suffolk (0-1) | Geneseo (1-0)
HOW IT HAPPENED
After three scoreless frames, Geneseo made a dent in the visitor side of the four, plating five runs to put the Rams in a hole. Delaney Sylvester quickly dug the blue-and-gold out as the senior captain sent the ball yard and brought in Ashley Zulla, who opened the inning with a single, to trim the deficit to three.
The Knights did more damage in the fifth as they scored six runs to turn it into an 11-2 contest in their favor. Suffolk attempted to keep the game going but its first two hitters went down – the first swinging and the second popped up to second. With two outs on the board, the Rams chucked the bags. Sydney Littlefield walked, while Payton Sylveter and Ashley Zulla each hit a single. Jaclyn Flint made contact with the rock and sent it to the circle where Geneseo's pitcher Tayor Moore picked it up and tossed it to first to secure the final out of the frame and seal the 11-2 decision.
PITCHERS PICTURE
- Ali Yamakaitis suffered the defeat on the rubber with the senior captain allowing five runs on six hits and only sitting down one batter in 3.1 frames.
- In relief work, Taylor Holmes gave up six runs on five hits and fanned a pair of hitters in 1.2 innings of action.
- Moore earned the win with a complete-game, two-run, six-hit, three-strikeout morning.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Delaney Sylvester was the most productive bat as the senior catcher went 2-for-2 at the dish with a homer, two RBI and one run.
- Zulla came in on Sylvester's jack with the sophomore outfielder going 1-for-3 on the day with a single.
- Littlfield put together a 1-for-2 showing to go along with a walk.
- Kelly Keane went 1-for-2 with her sole hit coming in her first collegiate at bat.
NOTEWORTHY
- Keane and Payton Sylvester made their collegiate debuts and starts.
POST-GAME PIC
WHAT'S TO COME
Suffolk wraps up day one of 2018 at 11 a.m. versus UMass Boston.
