WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Simmons softball broke up a 2-all tie with a three-run sixth inning to hand Suffolk softball a 5-2 setback Friday afternoon at the DiamondPlex as part of The Spring Games.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2 | Simmons 5
RECORDS: Suffolk (0-2) | Simmons (5-5) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Patience at the plate helped Suffolk grab a 2-0 early edge in the first inning. Four of the first five Rams' at bats resulted in walks to put the first run on the board. After a pitching change, Giavanna Bellino flew out to right to bring in the second run of the day.  

It turned into a new game in the fourth as Simmons scored a pair on three hits to lock things at 2-all. 

After a scoreless fifth, an error cost the Rams. The Sharks had runners on first and second with one out before Emery Kreidel-Reimer put the ball into play. A throwing error by the blue-and-gold's third baseman Avery Carvalho allowed the go-ahead run to come in. A wild pitch by Cynthia Rucnski let the insurance tally cross home before an effective ground out by Lizzie Sidler brought in Kreidel-Reimer to put Suffolk in a 5-2 hole.  

With one last chance at the dish, Lily Newhall barreled a two-out single to right center to spark hope for the Rams. A loud out to center by Bellino  put the third out of the inning and the final of the game though to lock up the game in the Sharks' favor.  

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Cynthia Rucinski let up five runs, three earned, on seven hits and four walks with one strikeout in 6.0 innings. 
• Trinity Payne earned the win with 6.2 innings of scoreless relief. She allowed just four hits and four walks with three punchouts. 
• Ally Hyde gave up two runs, both earned, on four walks, in the first 0.1 frames.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKINGS

• Newhall went 2-for-3 at the dish with a double, one RBI and one walk. 
• Catherine Carignan tallied one hit, two walks, one run and two stolen bases. 
• Diana Rucinski recorded one hit. 
• Lily Gustafson scored one run and walked twice. 
• Belino brought in one run on a sac fly and drew one base on balls.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk renewed a rivalry with Simmons as it met the Sharks for the first time since March 26, 2022. 
• Carignan swiped a personal-best two bases.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk's second day of The Spring Game features games against Widener (9:00 a.m.) and Thomas (2:00 p.m.).