WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Suffolk softball secured its first win of the 2025 campaign as it bested Widener, 7-3, Saturday morning at the DiamondPlex at The Spring Games.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 7 | Widener 3
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-2) | Widener (3-3)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Elizabeth Ca walked and swiped second and third to get into prime scoring position in the top of the first. Paris Balilio barreled a base hit to left to put the first run of the game on the board on Widener's side.  

The Rams responded in the home half of the inning. With runners on first and second thanks to a lead-off walk and a single, Julia Mills plated the game-tying run on a single to center. A first-and-third steal play allowed the go-ahead run to come in thanks to Catherine Carignan's second stolen base of the day and inning.  

Suffolk scored two more in the bottom of the third. This time the offensive output came thanks to a fielding mishap by the Pride's shortstop Taylor Bell. Giavanna Bellino put the ball into play with a high shot to short that hit off the tip of Bell's glove and allowed Lily Newhall and Mills, who walked and singled, respectively, to sprint in and extend the margin to 4-1.  

Ca's two-run double in the top of the fourth made things interesting and trimmed the blue-and-gold's advantage to one, 4-3.  

That margin did not last long as Suffolk put up three runs in the bottom of the fourth to jump ahead 7-4. Another hiccup on the left side of the infield when Carignan put the ball into play with two outs let the first Rams run come in. The two-out rally continued as Mills' perfectly placed base hit brought in two runs to give the blue-and-gold its largest lead of the day.  

Widener managed to get one base runner in the next three innings, but Suffolk's defense backed up Cynthia Rucinski to lock up the victory.  

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Cynthia Rucinski captured the victory behind 4.0 innings of scoreless relief. She let up just two hits and two walks with five strikeouts. 
• Ava Brandow started and gave up three runs on one hit and five walks with one K in 3.0 innings 
• Caitlyn Katchur took the loss. She allowed four runs, one earned, on three hits and two walks with three punchouts through 2.1 innings. 
• Hallie Wiener (0.2 IP) and Katelyn Tong (3.0 IP, 3 R, 0 ER, 7 H) came in in relief for the Pride.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Mills went 3-for-4 at the dish and was the only Ram to notch RBI with three to her credit to go along with one run scored and one stolen base. 
• Carignan also had multiple hits with a 2-for-4 showing. The junior center fielder added two runs and two stolen bases.  
• Abby Barnaby put together a 2-for-3 effort with one run. 
• Newhall notched two runs, one hit and one walk. 
• Lily Gustafson scored one run, laid down one sac and stole one base. 
• Diana Rucinski and Avery Carvalho had one hit each.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk and Widener met for the first time. 
• Carignan stole a career-high two bases for the second straight game. 
• Mills matched a personal-best in hits (3), RBI (3) and stolen bases (1). 
• Carvalho registered her first collegiate hit.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk wraps up its second day at The Spring Games this afternoon against Thomas.