EAST BOSTON – A one-run by Jolie Quintana in the bottom of the seventh sent Suffolk softball to a 9-8, game one win over Hartford Saturday afternoon at East Boston Memorial Park.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 9 | Hartford 8
RECORDS: Suffolk (18-21) | Hartford (24-9-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED
A two-run homer from Olivia Wolk put Hartford on the board in the top of the first.
The Rams made up that ground in the home half of the first with a two-run jack of their own as Catherine Carignan let the ball fly over the right field fence to level the playing field. With the runners on first and second and two outs on the board, Hannah McHale knocked a fly ball to right. The Hawks right fielder name misplayed the ball and it fell to the grass, which allowed Becky Zellin and Delaney Doidge to score to give the blue-and-gold a 4-2 upperhand. Zellin worked a walk to get on and Doidge made it on the bases with a base hit through the left side.
Suffolk extended its advantage further in the bottom of the second. Zellin's bases load sac fly to right plated the first runner before Doidge's second single through the left side of the day scored Jolie Quintana, who wore a pitch, to make it a 6-2 game.
Wolk's second homer of the day in the top of the third sliced the distance in half, 6-3.
Doidge got in the homerun fun in the bottom of the fourth as the blue-and-gold's designated player rocked a bomb to left center to pad the margin to 7-3.
Three hits and costly Rams two-out error allowed the Hawks to climb back within one in the top of the fifth.
Alexis Sealey slugged a solo shot to left center to even things at 7-all in the top of the sixth.
Zellin made up for her error that let Hartford come back with a one-run double in the bottom of the sixth. The Rams' catcher brought in Carignan, who walked, to send Suffolk in front, 8-7.
Lily Newhall came back in to twirl to seal up the victory. The Rams middle infield quickly combined with Bella Rocha-Medieros at first for two quick outs. Sealey had other things in mind, however, as the Hawks first baseman sent her second ball out of the park to even things at 8-all and force Suffolk to win it at the plate.
Diana Rucinski placed the ball perfectly in between the pitcher's circle and home for a one-out base hit. Lily Gustafson put the bunt down to sacrifice herself and move Rucinski over in time for Quintana to barrel a single to left field that allowed Rucinski to come home and send Suffolk to victory.
PITCHERS PICTURE
- Newhall managed to secure the win. The starter went 2.0 innings before coming in to close in the seventh. On the day she put together a three-run, five-hit, effort in 3.0 innings.
- Cynthia Rucinski had a one-run, there-hit, one-walk, one-strikeout effort in 2.0 innings.
- Ashlyn Conley (4 R, 2 ER, 6 H, 2 K) came out of the pen for 2.0 innings as well.
- Alex Hassett took the loss after giving up three runs on four hits and three walks with four punchouts in 4.2 innings.
- Carly Mayhood started for the Hawks and allowed six runs, four earned, on five hits and two walks in 2.0 innings of action.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Doidge went 3-for-4 with one homer. She brought in two runs and scored two herself.
- Quintana had multiple hits as well with a 2-for-4 plate performance. She added two runs and one RBI.
- Carignan supplied one hit, a homer, two RBI and two runs, as well as two walks.
- Zellin added two RBI on her lone hit, a double, and scored one run.
- Rucinski tallied one hit and one run, the game-winner.
- Gustafson chipped in one hit and one run.
NOTEWORTHY
- The Rams walked-off for the second-time this season, first since walking off in extras against Gordon, 5-4, April 14, 2024.
- The walk-off win was the first in seven innings for Suffolk this season.
- Suffolk and Hartford met for the first time.
- The Rams had multiple homers for the third time this year, first since knocking two in a 7-3 win over Wentworth April 28, 2024.
- Carignan logged her fourth jack of the year, while Doidge recorded her second homer of the season.
- Doidge had a career-high three hits.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk and Hartford wrap up the double feature this afternoon.
