Softball Runs Streak to 10 with 5-1 Win Over Rivier in Game 1

EAST BOSTON – The Suffolk softball team extended its win streak to 10 straight as the Rams bested Rivier, 5-1, to open the doubleheader Thursday afternoon at East Boston Memorial Park. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 5, Rivier 1
RECORD: Suffolk (15-6, 8-1 GNAC) | Rivier (8-17, 3-8 GNAC) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk took advantage of a Raiders error in the bottom of the first to grab an early 1-0 lead. Rivier leveled the playing field in the second stanza thanks to a Rams error before the blue-and-gold scored the first earned run of the afternoon in home half of the fourth. McKenzie McGrath earned the RBI with a single through the left side that scored Jaclyn Flint, who led of the frame with a single of her own, to give the Rams a two-run, 3-1 cushion.  

After a scoreless fifth, Suffolk added a pair of runs in the sixth. Flint led off the inning with a single to right center and took advantage of a distracted defense that saw Delaney Sylvester, who reached on an error by the Raiders right fielder, between first and second to score. Sylvester moved to second as Flint came in and rounded the bags on Ashely Zulla's double to center field to push the Rams advantage to 5-1.  

Ali Yamakaitis locked up the win for the blue-and-gold as she retired the side in the seventh. 

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Yamakaitis improved to 4-3 on the year behind a one-run, five-hit, two-walk, six-strikeout complete-game.
• Taylor Rowsell let up five runs on eight hits, while sitting down four batters.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Flint was the lone Rams' batter to produce multiple hits as the junior shortstop went 2-for-3 with one double to go along with a pair of runs. 
• McGrath and Zulla each produced one RBI apiece as the juniors also contributed one hit.
• RookiesPayton Sylvester and Kelly Keane had identical stat lines with one double and one run each. 
• Delaney Sylvester and Madison Eucalitto rounded out the Rams with hits as the seniors recorded one apiece. 
• Delaney Sylvester tallied one run for Suffolk as well.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk won its 10th straight contest versus Rivier to improve to 30-22 all-time versus the Raiders. 
• The Rams opened the GNAC 8-1 for the first time, marking the best conference start since going 12-1 in 2015.  

POST-GAME PIC
 

COMING UP
Suffolk and Rivier conclude the doubleheader under the lights in Eastie.