MYRTLE BEACH – Suffolk softball trailed by as many as six, put together a comeback, but it would not be enough to take down Fitchburg State as the Falcons spoiled the Rams' season opener 9-6 Sunday morning at the North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 6 | Fitchburg State 9
RECORDS: Suffolk (0-1) | Fitchburg State (3-3)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk grabbed a one-run leading in the opening inning thanks to a Fitchburg State infield error. Caitlin Murphy got the inning going with a base hit to right field, snuck over to second on a stolen base to get into scoring position. Two batters later, Savannah Scripter put the ball into play and the Falcons' second baseman Julia Gauvin could not get a handle on it which allowed Murphy to cruise home to make it a 1-0 Suffolk score at the end of the first.  

Fitchburg State got that run and then some back in the top of the second on three hits and one Rams' miscue to flip the outing in its favor, 3-1.  

Down two, the blue-and-gold bats stranded two runners in the home half of the second to keep the score still. The Falcons, meanwhile, padded their margin in the top of the third to 6-1, as Suffolk was plagued by another error to find itself in a five-run hole with 2.5 innings in the books.  

Runs were traded in the fifth to keep the distance at five. With two outs, Ally Cifaratta drew out an at bat before barreling a single through the left side. Delaney Doidge came in to hit for Ira Boci. The freshman's first collegiate hit near left the park as it was just inches inside the 225-foot left field fence. The double plated Cifaratta to turn the score to 7-2. 

Suffolk started to come alive in the sixth as the Ram quickly figured out Falcons' reliever Mackenzie Leveille. The new arm gave up four runs on three hits and one FSU error. Bianca Luciano got the rally going as the senior laid down a bunt for a base hit. An over throw by Leveille to second on Murphy's at bat allowed Luciano to take second and set up Ava Brandow's bases clearing double to left field. Scripter followed that with a two-run shot to left center to pull the blue-and-gold within one, 7-6.  

Cahill returned to the rubber for the Falcons and took care of business to keep Fitchburg in front.  

Similar to Suffolk, FSU took advantage of a fresh Rams' twirler to extend the edge back to three. The offense came with a pair of walks, two erratic pitches, a couple stolen bases and a sac fly.  

Cahill retired the Rams in order in the bottom of the seventh to ensure Suffolk's season-opening setback. 

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Jenny Jacob took the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, on two hits and three walks with two strikouets in 1.1 innings of action. 
• Ella Turnbull tossed 4.2 innings of relief in which she allowed just one earned run on five hits, three walks to go along with two Ks. 
• Julia Newcomb closed out the action for Suffolk and let up two runs on two walks. She sat down two batters. 
• Cahill collected the victory with a two-run (one earned), seven-hit, nine-walk, nine-punchout line in 6.2 frames of action. 
• Leveille came out of the pen for the Falcons for 0.1 inning. She gave up four runs, three earned on three hits including one dinger.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Suffolk had 10 hits scattered around seven bats. 
• Cifaratta led the way with a 3-for-4 effort that included one double. She scored one run and stole one base. 
• Murphy registered a 2-for-3 day at the dish with one double. She scored twice and swiped one bag. 
• Brandow and Scripter each brought in two runs on extra-base knocks. The former collected her RBI on a double, while the latter sent the ball out of the pair for her pair of RBIs. Both scored on Scripter's homer. 
• Luciano added one hit and one run. 
• Doidge tallied one hit, a double, to bring in one run. 
• Jolie Quintana rounded out the Rams hitters with one base hit.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk opened the Janet Maguire era. 
• The Rams began their season on a neutral diamond for the first time since 2020. 
• Suffolk and Fitchburg State met for the first time.
• Eight Rams made their collegiate debut in Brandow, Doidge, Lily Gustafson, Ashley King, Haley Oteri, Turnbull, Quintana and Rebecca Zellin.
• Jacob made her Rams' debut. 
• Scripter registered her fifth career home run.   

POST-GAME PIC
  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk will take on Franklin Pierce this afternoon to wrap up its first day at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic.