NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Half a dozen Rams produced multiple hits to propel Suffolk softball to its first victory of 2023, a 10-4 decision over St. Joseph (Conn.) Saturday afternoon at the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic.

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 10 | Saint Joseph (Conn.) 4
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-2) | Saint Joseph (Conn.)  (1-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Blue Jays scored first in the top of the first with a solo shot and a bases loaded walk. 

Ava Brandow's double to left center sliced the gap in half as she brought in Maddie Southers, who led off with a single to left field. 

USJ restored the two-run margin in the next half inning, before Suffolk's bats got going in the bottom of the second. Two batters after Caitlin Murphy had a productive out that scored Ira Boci, who singled to right, Maddie Southers knocked an inside the park home run to push the Rams in front, 4-3. 

Suffolk's offensive output did not stop there though. Ally Cifaratta kept the hits coming with a double to center and Savannah Scripter plated the third baseman with a single to center field. With two ducks in the pond, Ella Turnbull cleared the bags with a double to right to give Suffolk a 7-3 cushion.

The Blue Jays put one run up in the fourth to pull within three, but Suffolk responded with two runs in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a two-RBI double from Southers to stretch the distance to 9-4.

Delaney Doidge's base hit RBI added more insurance in the bottom of the single to make it a 10-4 game.

Ashlyn Conley came in to close and kept the Blue Jays scoreless despite giving up a pair of base hits.

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Turnbull earned the win behind a four-run, nine-hit, three-walk, six-strikeout performance in 6.0 innings.
• Conley logged 1.0 inning of scoreless relief with two hits allowed.
• Paige Fekete suffered the setback after allowing seven runs on nine hits and one walk in 1.2 frames of action.
• Tessa D'Aquila came in for 3.0 innings of relief and let up two runs on five hits and one walk with two Ks.
• Jordyn Fitch saw 1.1 innings out of the pen. She allowed one run on one hit and two walks with one punchout.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Southers went 3-for-4 with one homer and one double for three RBI to go along with two runs.
• Scripter also went 3-for-4.
• Doidge went 2-for-2 with one double, two runs, two walks and one RBI.
• Brandow and Turbull both went 2-for-3 with double and one RBI apiece. The former added one run as well.
• Boci recorded two hits and two runs. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk renewed a rivalry with USJ, meeting the Blue Jays for the first time since April 14, 2019.
• The Rams won two in a row versus USJ to move to 25-15 all-time against the Blue Jays.
• Suffolk scored 10 runs for the first time since a 12-1 triumph at UMass Boston April 19, 2022.
• Suffolk's five doubles are the most since matching that number in a 6-4 win at Curry April 16, 2022, while the six extra-base hits are the most for the Rams since producing eight (5 doubles, three homers) in a 15-13 setback to Lesley April 5, 2022.
• Southers has successfully hit in all three of the Rams games.
• Southers logged personal-bests in hits (3), RBI (3) and runs (2). She scored the first runs of her collegiate career and tallied her first extra-base hits in a double and jack.
• Scripter matched a career-high hits with three, achieving the feat for the fifth time.
• Turnbull notched a personal-best two hits and had the first double of her college career.
• Boci scored a pair of runs for the fifth time in her career.
• Doidge, who hit in back-to-back games, set a new career-high in hits (2), and runs scored (2).
• Sophia Barker scored one run in her collegiate debut as a pinch runner.

POST-GAME PIC
 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk is scheduled for two games tomorrow, Sunday, March 12. The Rams will open the day against Cortland at 9:00 a.m., before facing Susquehanna at 1:00 p.m. at the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex.