KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Suffolk softball was kept off the scoreboard and Amherst's bats came alive to defeat the Rams, 8-0, in five innings under the lights of Osceola Park at THE Spring Games Tuesday night.

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 0 | Amherst 8
RECORDS: Suffolk (3-3) | Amherst (4-0)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Amherst matched runs to inning numbers in the first and second frames, respectively to gain a 3-0 edge over Suffolk. The Mammoths stretched their lead to five with three innings in the book after a one-run triple from Ronnie Marie and a sac fly from Audrey Hanse.

Kennedy Reyes was the first arm to keep Amherst quiet as she replaced Alexis Bonilla on the rubber in the bottom of the fourth.  The right-handed rookie picked up one strikeout, looking, to end the inning and keep the margin at five.

Suffolk's offense had a chance to eliminate the shutout in the top of the sixth. With all the ducks in the pond behind base hits from McKenzie McGrath and Briana Loughlin and a walk by Bianca Luciano, the Rams' lead off hitter Caitlin Murphy sent a high fly ball to center field. The ball got caught up in the wind and drifted in for not only the catch, but also the play at home to put two outs on the board. Talia Bloxha fanned the next blue-and-gold batter to hold Suffolk off the scoreboard.

The Mammoths managed to cross home three times in the home half of the fifth to take the clash via the run-rule fashion.

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Bonilla went 3.0 innings in the circle for the Rams. In her first-ever start, the freshman let up five runs, three earned, on five hits, three walks and sat down one hitter.

• In relief work, Reyes allowed three runs, two earned, off four hits and walk to go with one punchout.

• Bloxha put together a four-hit, one-walk, five-strikeout, scoreless day to keep Amherst unbeaten this season.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Suffolk's four hits came off the bats of Luciano, McGrath Murphy and Ashely Zulla.

• Grace Boehler put down a sac bunt.

• Luciano drew the lone base-on-balls for the Rams' offense.

NOTEWORTHY

• Bonilla made her first collegiate start in the circle.

• Luciano notched her first collegiate hit.

POST-GAME PIC


COMING UP
Day four of THE Spring Games for Suffolk features battles with William Paterson (9:15 a.m.) and Finlandia (4:15 p.m.) at Fortune Road.