BOSTON – Suffolk softball rebounded in game two against Emerson with a 7-2 victory over its Boston Commons neighbor to split the double feature Sunday at Rotch Field.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 7 | Emerson 2
RECORDS: Suffolk (6-10) | Emerson (6-6)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The teams exchanged runs in the first inning. With two outs and runners on second and third, Lily Gustafson's single through the left side brought the first run of the day in.
The Lions responded was a run of their on behind a base hit to keep things even at 1-all through one.
The Rams regained the lead in the top of the second. Diana Rucinski and Sara Butera barreled back-to-back singles and moved over on a wild pitch, which forced Emerson to make a change in the circle. Abby Barnaby laid down a bunt that scored Diana Rucinski before Catherine Carignan singled down the right field line to plate Butera and make it a 3-1 Suffolk score.
Both teams put up one run in the fourth to keep the two-run gap. Barnaby was responsible for the Rams run as she coasted in thanks to Carignan's triple to right center.
Insurance came for Suffolk in the top of the seventh. Base hits filled the bags before Gustafson knocked a single to center field that brought in one run before an error on the play allowed the next two runs on the plate come in to make it 7-2 in the blue-and-gold's favor.
Emerson had a pair of base runners in the home half of the seventh, but they were stranded on the bags as Lily Newhall helped herself in the circle with a 1-3 ground out for the final out of the game.
PITCHERS PICTURE
- Newhall notched the win with a two-run, seven-hit, three-walk, three-strikeout, complete-game effort.
- Kate Regan took the loss. She gave up three runs on five hits in 1.0 inning of action.
- Jessica Gomez allowed four runs, two earned, one eight hits with three punchouts over 6.0 innings.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Carignan went 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBI.
- Gustafson supplied a 3-for-4 effort as well with a pair of RBI and one stolen base.
- Diana Rucinski recorded a 2-for-3 plate performance with one run scored.
- Bellino produced two hits and two runs scored.
- Ava Brandow, Butera, Julia Mills had identical, one-hit, one-run stat lines.
- Barnaby pitched in one run, one RBI and one sac.
NOTEWORTHY
- Suffolk moved to 27-33 all-time against the Lions.
- On the road, the Rams are 16-18 versus Emerson.
- Suffolk is 3-1 against Emerson under Megan Cook's guidance.
- Carignan and Gustafson both matched their career-high in hits with three.
- Bellino tied a personal-best two hits and set a new career-high in runs scored.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk turns its attention to its Conference of New England (CNE) opener that is on tap Saturday, March 29 against the University of New England at East Boston Memorial Park. The twinbill is set to start at 12:00 p.m.
