BOSTON – The Suffolk softball team will welcome the first and third place teams in the GNAC to East Boston Memorial Park this weekend as it hosts first-place the University of St. Joseph (Conn.) and third-place Saint Joseph's College (Maine). The Rams will first face the Blue Jays Saturday, April 23, before taking on the Monks Sunday, April 24. Both doubleheaders will begin at 12 p.m. 

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LAST TIME OUT
The Suffolk softball team ran its win streak to six Thursday afternoon as the Rams posted two wins in a non-conference doubleheader against Salem State at East Boston Memorial Park. Suffolk won the opener, 7-2, and sealed the sweep with a 5-4 closer.    

MORE READING: Softball Extends Win Streak to Six, Takes Doubleheader vs. Salem State

RUN DOWN ON THE RAMS
Suffolk, who is 22-6 overall, is second in the GNAC standings, behind St. Joseph (Conn.) with an 11-3 conference record. The Rams' 15 sacrifice flies pave the way in the GNAC, while their runs (176), hits (285), doubles (51), home runs (11), extra-base hits (69), slugging percentage (.472), earned-run average (2.08) and batting average against (.238) all sit second. Suffolk produces the third most on-base percentage (.401) and batting average (.351).

Delaney Sylvester's team-best .465 batting average is fifth in the league with the sophomore catcher brining in team-high 26 runs and scoring 12 herself. Devlin Frost, who is batting .398, and Jill Pulek, who hits .455, are second and third on the squad in RBI with 26 and 25, respectively. The sophomore – freshman twosome are also responsible for 29 and 28 runs each.

Taylor Holmes (8-1) and Ali Yamakaitis (8-3) have each recorded eight wins inside the circle, the fifth highest among GNAC hurlers. The sophomores have each fanned 44 batters. Holmes leads the way with a 1.65 ERA, which ranks fifth in the league, in 68.0 innings of work and has two saves to her credit, the most for league pitchers. Yamakaitis has a 1.78 ERA, which is sixth in the conference, working 74.2 innings.

INSIDE THE STREAK
The six-game win streak represents the longest for Suffolk this season and most consecutive victories for the Rams' since last season's squad strung together a set of 11 from April 1-12.

ROOKIE RECOGNITION
Every week Suffolk has been in action this season a rookie has been recognized with back-to-back GNAC Corvias Rookie of the Week accolades. Jill Pulek earned the distinction March 14, whileEvelyn Marquis garnered the honor March 21. 

MORE READING:  Pulek Tabbed GNAC Corvias Rookie of the Week | Marquis Named GNAC Corvias Rookie of the Week

FROST'S FIRST PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR
Devlin Frost earned her first GNAC Corvias Player of the Week recognition of her career Monday as the sophomore produced seven hits and a .538 batting average in four games last weekend, helping the Rams turn in a 3-1 record.

MORE READING: Frost Picks Up GNAC Corvias Player of the Week Nod

BIT 'BOUT THE BLUE JAYS
It has been a great season for St. Joseph, as it enters the weekend with a 22-6 record and a 12-2 GNAC ledger, good for first place in the league standings. Both of the Blue Jays' conference setbacks this season came to Saint Joseph's (Maine), 1-0 and 4-0, last weekend.

The senior tandem of Patti Sciglimpaglia and Mary Sciglimpaglia have been leading a potent St. Joseph offense this season as P. Sciglimpaglia leads the team with 44 hits, 21 for extra bases, and 39 RBI, while boasting one of the highest batting averages in the league, .454. She also leads the team in runs with 24. M. Sciglimpagali, meanwhile, has produced 38 hits, 31 RBI and 14 runs this season.

P. Sciglimpaglia has proved to be the most one of the most dominant pitchers in the league, bringing a 13-1 record into the Suffolk series to go with 113 strikeouts and a 0.52 earned-run average.  

MONKS MENTIONABLES
Saint Joseph's is third in the GNAC standings thanks to a 17-12 overall ledger and a 10-4. The Monks conference defeats came to Simmons (7-1), Norwich (6-2) and were swept and shutout by Albertus Magnus (2-0/3-0).

Jennifer Murphy is batting .388 with seven doubles, 22 RBI and four runs. Mariah Harrison, who is hitting .355, leads the team in hits (33) and runs (19) and has also brought in 19.

Kristal Smith is 7-4 with a 1.50 ERA in 70.0 innings, while Kyle McFadden has gone 7-3 and owns a 2.03 ERA in 65.2 innings this spring.

COMING UP
Suffolk will make two road trips during the week, visiting Anna Maria Tuesday, April 26 and Curry Thursday, April 28 before closing its regular season slate at home Saturday, April 30 against Rivier.