WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Wittenberg used a seven-run third-inning to turn on the mercy rule and Suffolk softball was unable to rally back to suffered a 9-1, five-inning setback to the Tigers Wednesday morning at the DiamondPlex at The Spring Games.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 1 | Wittenberg 9
RECORDS: Suffolk (4-5) | Wittenberg (4-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED
A lead-off single, two stolen bases and a sac fly was all Wittenberg needed to get on the board in the bottom of the first and force Suffolk to play from behind, 1-0.
Delaney Doidge made up that ground in the top of the second as the senior catcher slugged a bomb over the center field fence to even things at 1-all.
The Tigers took the lead back in the home half of the second. This time Wittenberg used a double, wild pitch and single to bring the go-ahead run around.
Multiple fielding mishaps cost the Rams in the bottom of the third as Wittenberg managed to put up seven runs and lengthened its lead to 9-1.
Suffolk was unable to capitalize on its lead-off base runners in the fourth and fifth, frames, respectively, to take the run-rule loss.
PITCHERS PICTURE
- Cynthia Rucinski took the loss. The starter allowed eight runs, two earned, on six hits and one walk through 2.2 innings of work.
- Ella Turnbull compiled a one-run, unearned, two-hit, two-strikeout effort in 1.1 innings of relief.
- Lilly Shaw picked up the win with a one-hit, 2.0-inning effort out of the pen.
- Julia Hall started and put together a one-run, three-hit, two-walk, four-strikeout performance in 3.0 frames.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Doidge's homer was one of four Rams' hits. She brought in and scored Suffolk's only run.
- Julia Mills, Catherine Carignan and Lily Gustafson pitched in one hit apiece.
- Lily Newhall put down a sac bunt.
- Carignan and Gustafson recorded one stolen base apiece.
NOTEWORTHY
- Suffolk and Wittenberg met for the first time.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk wraps up its fifth play day at The Spring Games against Bowdoin.