BOSTON – The Suffolk baseball team turned in an 8-1 decision over Lasell, cruising past the Lasers in the two-game series opener Sunday afternoon at East Boston Memorial Park. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 8, Lasell 1
RECORDS: Suffolk (19-9, 10-1 GNAC) | Lasell (10-12, 6-2 GNAC)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Lasell put a run on the board in the top of the first. The Rams responded in the home half of the inning, however, as the blue-and-gold flew through its lineup to grab a 5-1 lead. Sean Cameron started the rally with a single up the middle and took second on an error by the Laser's pitcher. With Rams on first and second, Matt Brenner collected an RBI with a single to right field to knot the game at 1-all. The Laser's second baseman Greg Camarda could not make up his mind whether to go for the runner on second or Curtis Tirone racing up the first base line, allowing both runners to reach to put all the ducks in the pond. Luke Ronchi and BJ Neil each drew a walk to bring in a runner and the pair came in thanks to Kevin Higgins two RBI single to center to give Suffolk a 5-1 advantage after one. 

Suffolk put more distance between it and the Lasers with three runs in the bottom of the third. Tirone's triple opened the inning with the third baseman scoring on a 63 ground out by Ronchi. Two batters later BJ Neil doubled to left center and Higgins followed suit with a jack over the left field fence to stretch the Rams' advantage to seven, 8-1, with three innings in the book. 

A scoreless contest rolled from there with the Rams locking up the win thanks to a three-up, three-down top of the seventh. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Higgins 2-for-3, three-RBI, one-run effort led the way for the Rams.
• Neil produced one hit, one run, one RBI and one as Suffolk's designated hitter.
• Tirone scored twice to go with his lone hit.
• Cameron had a one-hit, one-run day with Brenner registering one hit and one RBI. 

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Ryan Pordes went the distance, allowing just one run on five hits with eight Ks in the complete-game effort.
• Daniel Petr fell on the hill for the Lasers. The starter dealt the first 3.0 frames, allowing eight runs (five earned) with six hits and two strikeouts.
• Frank Zammarelli worked the final 3.0 for Lasell. He held the Rams scoreless and without a hit, sitting down two hitters. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Pordes matched his career-best strikeouts (8), to improve to 5-0 on the season.
• Suffolk won its fourth straight against Lasell.

POST-GAME PIC

COMING UP
Suffolk wraps up the weekend under the lights in Eastie versus the Lasers.