Boston, MA - The Suffolk University Softball team (9-10, 6-2 GNAC) earned a split in a GNAC double header on Sunday which the Norwich University Cadets (7-13, 6-6 GNAC). The Rams brought their bats with them as they combined for 30 hits on the day, but an offensive explosion for the Cadets in game 2 earned them the split. Senior Jess Ferreira (Cambridge, MA) picked up three hits in game reaching the 200 hit career plateau to lead the Rams to a game one win, 7-4.
Game 1
The first game started off as a bit of a pitcher's duel as Suffolk's Brooke Hirchfield (Winchester, MA) and Norwich's Kelsey Buker (Morrisville, VT) traded zeroes for the first three innings. Norwich jumped on the board in the fourth after loading the bases on two singles and a walk, before junior Kristin Wilbur (Marshfield, VT) knocked in the game's first run with a sacrifice fly to right.
Suffolk would answer in the bottom half of the inning as Jess Ferreira connected on her fifth home run of the season to even up the score. The Rams tacked on two more runs in the inning as freshman Cali Loura (Farmington, CT) drove in a run with a fielder's choice, and senior Rebecca Barnett (Hull, MA) singled to put the Rams up 3-1.
Norwich came right back in their next trip to plate to even the score at 3-3. The big hit of the inning coming off the bat of junior Katelyn Menard (Morrisville, VT) who drove in both runs in the inning with a single.
Suffolk took back the lead in the fifth as senior Marie Trainor (Winthrop, MA) doubled with one out in the inning and then came around to score on a single by Ferreira. Ferreira hit was the 200th hit of her career.
The Rams would tack on three more runs in the sixth. Senior Kellie Hurlock (East Lyme, CT) led the inning off with a home run. With two outs, senior Rachel Misuraca (Gloucester, MA) singled, and sophomore Monica Cioffi (East Boston, MA) singled. Both runners advanced into scoring position on a passed ball and came around to score on a base hit by Trainor.
Hirschfeld picked up her third win of the season on the mound, scattering eleven hits in her seven innings of work and striking out four.
Game 2
Norwich used a 10-run third inning to help earn them a split of the double header winning game two by a score of 17-11.
Suffolk had 18 hits in game two, but could not match the Cadets' offensive output. The Rams' had seven players finish game two with multiple hits. Senior Rebecca Schalit (Miami, FL) finished game two with 3 RBI, and Rebecca Barnett also knocked in a pair. All 18 of Suffolk's hits in the game were singles.
The Rams play again on Tuesday as they travel to Waltham to take on Brandeis University in a non-conference game at 4 pm.