Boston, MA - The Suffolk University Softball team (17-14, 13-5 GNAC) took two much need wins on Wednesday as they continue to climb up the GNAC standings sweeping Lasell College (20-13, 13-5 GNAC) in a double header. The wins now push the Rams into a tie for second place heading into the final weekend of regular season play. The Rams got solid pitching performances from freshmen Elizabeth Galvin (Medway, MA) and Carissa Roche (Swampscott, MA) in both ends of the double header and exploded for 13 hits in game two as they were victorious, 4-2 and 9-1.
Game 1
Freshman Elizabeth Galvin (Medway) picked up her eighth win of 2009 as she pitched a complete game six hitter over the Lasell College Lasers. Galvin had three strikeouts on the day and only allowed one earned run as the Rams won game one 4-2.
Lasell jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first. Senior Heather Rose (West Roxbury, MA) singled with one out and then stole second. Rose came around to score on an infield error by Suffolk to take the early lead.
The Rams would answer with three of their own in the bottom of the fourth. Junior Valerie Liberatore (Chelsea, MA) got the inning started single. Freshman Karina Bolster (Carlisle, PA) then doubled down the left field line to put the Rams on the board. After Bolster advanced to third on a passed ball, freshman Cali Loura (Farmington, CT) then reached on an infield error, before stealing second to put two runners in scoring position with one out. Junior Erin O'Donnell (Groton, MA) then singled home a run to give the Rams the lead, and Suffolk would tack on one more as sophomore Monica Cioffi (East Boston, MA) beat out an infield hit to put the Rams up 3-1.
The Rams would tack on one more run in the sixth as senior Marie Trainor (Winthrop, MA) picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly.
Lasell would not go quietly however as they tacked on one more run in the top of the seventh and left the game tying run on the bases. Freshman Talia DeChiara (Kingston, MA) got the inning started singling through the left side of the infield. After an infield error, sophomore Kelly Starkey (Keene, NH) singled home a run, cutting the Rams lead in half, however poor baserunning by the Lasers would cost them as centerfielder Monica Cioffifired the ball back into the infield as the Rams would catch Marissa McHugh trying to advance to third on the play. Sophomore Kelly Silvia (Oak Bluffs, MA) singled with two outs to bring the go-ahead run to the plate and continue the drama. Galvin got the next hitter to fly out to center to retire the side and end the threat to preserve the win in game one for Suffolk.
Game 2
The Rams cruised to a 9-1 victory in game two as they collected 13 hits and scored in every inning. The Rams jumped out to an early 4-1 after the first inning of play as they had as knocked out six consecutive hits. Marie Trainor (Winthrop, MA) and Jess Ferreira (Cambridge, MA) hit back to back doubles in the first. Cali Loura tripled and Rebecca Schalit, Valerie Liberatore and Karina Bolster all had RBI singles.
Senior Rebecca Barnett (Hull, MA) picked up two RBI in the third with an RBI single to center. Barnett would finish game two with three RBI.
Barnett, Trainor, Ferreira, Liberatore and Loura all had two hits each in the second game.
Carissa Roche struck out four and allowed six hits as she picked up her sixth win of the season on the mound for Suffolk.
The Rams play again on Friday as they travel to Nashua, NH to take on Rivier College. Game one is set for a 4:00 pm start.