BOSTON – Suffolk softball was shutout in game one by UMass Boston, 1-0, in a true pitchers dual Wednesday afternoon at the UMB Softball Field.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 0 | UMass Boston 1
RECORDS: Suffolk (7-8) | UMass Boston (13-2)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both sides went down in order in the first to keep zeroes on the scoreboard.
Suffolk managed to put all the ducks on the pond with one out in the second as walks sandwiched a base hit from Becky Zellin. The Rams would be stranded there as the next batter went down signing and Maddie Southers grounded out to first to end the inning.
The Beacons offense came in the home half of the second. Hayley Krockta wore a pitch, moved to second on Brianna Melchiond's single to center and swiped third to get in prime scoring position. Ella Delisles bunt back to the pitcher allowed Krockta to come in and put the Beacons on the board, 1-0.
That was the lone run that Cynthia Rucinski and the blue-and-gold's defense would allow, which helped keep the Rams in the thick of things.
Offensively, Jolie Quintana led off the third with a single to right but was left on the bags. The Rams had another chance in the fifth with a pair of base runners with one out, but once again could not capitalize.
PITCHERS PICTURE
- Cynthia Rucinski finished with a one-run, three-hit, one-walk, three-strikeout in 6.0 innings in the setback.
- Melchionda compiled a two-hit, three-walk, five-strikeout, complete-game shutout.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The Rams two hits came off Quintana's and Zellin's bats.
- Catherine Carignan, Ava Brandow and Lily Newhall each drew one walk.
- Quintana and Southers both had one stolen base.
NOTEWORTHY
- Suffolk moved to 8-18 all-time against UMass Boston.
- The Rams have fallen in three in a row against the Beacons.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk concludes its double feature at UMass Boston this afternoon.