BOSTON – Down three in the seventh, Suffolk softball rattled off nine runs to rally past Emerson, 12-6, in game two of a Boston double feature Friday afternoon at Rotch Field.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 12 | Emerson 6
RECORDS: Suffolk (7-7) | Emerson (7-5)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk sprot out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning. With runners on first and second, Delaney Doidge barreled a double to left center to clear the bags and take third on the throw in. An error by the Lions' centerfielder when Maddie Southers sent the ball to the outfielder allowed Doidge to score easily and give the Rams a 3-0 lead.   

The Lions leaped back with a pair in the fourth. Two walks and a productive ground out the pitcher put a pair of Emerson players in scoring position in time for Claire Overton to clear the bags and slice the blue-and-gold's advantage to one. Izzi Shaffer's double to left field pushed Overton, the tying run, to prime scoring position at third, which forced Suffolk head coach Megan Cook to make a change in the circle. Cynthia Rucinski got the ball from Ella Turnbull and sat down Sam Zannotti looking in a six-pitch at bat to keep the Rams up 3-2.  

Emerson did manage to level the playing field in its next turn at the plate as Steph Trendell's sac fly made it a 3-all game heading into the sixth. 

The Lions' momentum carried into the home half of the sixth and Riley Caiazza's two-run base hit up the middle made Suffolk trail for the first time in the nightcap. Emerson's designated player sent a long ball out to Ava Brandow in left, but the junior could not make the catch, which made it a three-run once against with the Rams down this time, 6-3.   

The Rams stepped up to the challenge in the seventh. Southers struck out, but beat the throw to first to spark the comeback fire. A pattern of stolen base followed by a base hit followed for Lily Gustafson and Julia Mills at bats to trim the gap to one. After Cynthia Rucinski walked to reach base safely for the first time in her collegiate career, Suffolk put on a doubles hitting clinic as Catherine Carignan, Becky Zellin and Lily Newhall all knocked two-baggers to send the blue-and-gold in front, 9-6.  

Suffolk kept its foot on the gas pedal and singles from Jolie Quintana and Gustafson added two more runs with one additional run on a throwing mishap from Emerson that made it 12-6.  

Cynthia Rucinski did her job in the bottom half of the inning with help from her fielders to lock up the victory.  

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Cynthia Rucinski earned the win. She had a four-run (three earned), two-hit, four-walk, two-strikeout effort in 3.1 innings. 
• Turnbull started in the circle and allowed two runs on four hits and five walk with three Ks over 3.2 innings of work. 
• Caleigh Sheehan suffered her first setback of the season after letting up nine runs, seven earned, on nine hits and three walks with seven punchouts in 6.1 frames of action. 
• Kate Regan allowed three runs, all unearned, on four hits in 0.2 innings out of the pen. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Gustafson went 3-for-5 with two RBI, one run scored and one stolen base.  
• Carignan contributed a 3-for-4 performance with a pair of doubles, one RBI and one run scored. 
• Doidge notched two hits, one double, two RBI and two runs scored. 
• Zellin added two RBI, two runs, one hit, a double, and one walk. 
• Newhall tallied two runs, one hit, a double, and one RBI. 
• Mills notched two hits, one RBI, one run and one stolen base. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk moved to 26-33 all-time against Emerson. 
• On the road, the Rams are now 15-17 versus Emerson. 
• Suffolk swept the Lions for the first time since 2022. 
• The blue-and-gold is unbeaten against Emerson under Cook's guidance. 
• Gustafson matched a career-high three hits. 
• Mills had a stolen base for the first time in her collegiate career. 
• Carignan tied a career-high in hits (3) and doubles (2). 
• Doidge matched a personal-best in hits (3) and runs scored (2). 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Another Beantown battle is in store for Suffolk next Thursday, March 28 when it visits UMass Boston for a twinbill. Game one is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m.