BOSTON – Ava Brandow had a standout performance as the freshman threw a complete-game with eight strikeouts and provided at the plate to push Suffolk softball to open a non-conference double feature against Emerson with a 7-1 victory Friday afternoon at Rotch Field. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 7 | Emerson 1
RECORDS: Suffolk (6-3) | Emerson (10-3)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
After back-and-forth action over the first three frames, Suffolk held a slim 2-1 edge.  

In the first, Delaney Doidge drew a bases loaded walk to put the first run of the day on the board. Jolie Quintana reached on an error, Brandow singled and Ally Cifaratta worked a base on balls of her own to chuck the bags and set up the two-out RBI. 

Emerson tied things up in the home half of the second. Claire Overton knocked a double to center and Mary Kuczkowski traded places with her with a two-bagger to left to lock things at one-all. 

Things did not stay even for long as the Rams restored their advantage in the top of the third. Brandow barreled a base hit to second and swiped second to get into scoring position. Cifaratta brought the freshman in on a single to left field to push the blue-and-gold back in front, 2-1.   

Brandow kept the Lions' quiet for her second three-up, three-down inning of the day. This time the Rams' rookie sat down the side swinging to help Suffolk cling onto the lead. 

Suffolk looked to tack on some insurance in the next two frames, but five stranded runners over the fourth and fifth frames instead to allow the Lions to remain within striking distance.  

A shutdown inning by Brandow, her third of the day, that closed with consecutive strikeouts, one looking followed by a swinging K, maintained the one-run margin as the game headed to the sixth.  

That insurance the Rams were working towards finally came. AnEmerson error and small ball by the blue-and-gold gave Suffolk base runners on first and second. Brandow helped herself out as she sent a ball out of the park. The three-run bomb bumped the Rams ahead by four in the top of the sixth. 

That would be the end of the day for Calli Pratt as Grace Beaullieu came in to take over. Suffolk continued to slug as Savannah Scripter and Doidge sandwiched hits around a fielding miscue by the host. With the bags juiced, that Emerson found its way out of the jam as Rebecca Gonzalez hit into a fielder's choice and Ira Boci lined out to first. 

Damage was already done though, and the game was handed back over to Brandow. The right-handed twirler once again controlled things as she retired the side for the fourth time to keep momentum in Suffolk's favor.  

The Rams carried that energy into the seventh stanza. Scripter connected for a two-run single to center that scored Bianca Luciano and Caitlin Murphy to tack on two more for the visitors. Both Luciano and Murphy reached on base hits and the seniors each collected a stolen base in the inning as well.  

Emerson finally started to figure Brandow out the bottom of the seventh. The first-year found herself with Lions on first and second, both of who walked, with two outs. Luciano gloved a long out in right field to put a bow on Brandow's day.  

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Brandow served a one-run, two-hit, three-walk, eight-strikeout complete-game.
• Pratt gave up five runs, three earned, on eight hits and four walks with 11 punchouts over 5.1 innings. 
• Beaulieu let up two runs on five hits with a pair of Ks in 1.2 frames of relief.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Brandow went 3-for-5 at the dish with one dinger to go with three RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases. 
• Murphy pitched in a 3-for-5 effort as well. The center fielder scored twice and stole two bases. 
• Scripter supplied a 3-for-5 performance with one double and two RBI. 
• Luciano tallied two runs scored, one hit and one stolen base. 
• Cifaratta chipped in one hit, one RBI and one walk. 
• Doidge recorded two walks, one run and one RBI. 
• Quintana added one run and one stolen base. 
• Gonzalez had one hit and stolen base, respectively.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk and Emerson met for the first time since April 16, 2019. 
• The Rams defeated the Lions for the first time since an 8-0 shutout March 30, 2017.
• Suffolk improved to 23-31 all-time against its Boston Commons neighbor.
• Brandow made her first collegiate start in the circle. 
• Brandow registered a personal-best in strikeouts (8), batters faced (26) and innings pitched (7.0).
• Brandow tossed the first complete-game of her career.
• Brandow sent a ball out of the park for the second time this season. 
• Brandow barreled a career-high in hits (3), RBI (3), runs scored (2) and stolen bases (2).
• Doidge drew a personal-best two walks and matched a career-high in hits (1) and RBI (1).
• Murphy matched a career-high three hits. 
• Quintana notched the first stolen base of her collegiate career.
• Scripter tied a career-high three hits.  

POST-GAME PIC
  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk concludes the double feature with the Lions tonight.