BOSTON – Becky Zellin broke open a 1-all game with a two-run shot in the sixth to anchor Suffolk softball to a convincing 9-2 victory over Emerson in game one of a city clash with the Lions at Rotch Field Friday.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 9 | Emerson 2
RECORDS: Suffolk (6-7) | Emerson (7-4)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lions were the first to strike as they put one run on the board in the bottom of the first. Sam Zannotti singled through the left side, moved to second on an error by Bella Rocha-Medeiros at first and cruised in on Makenzie Killough's double down the left field line.  

The score stayed still until the fourth. Similar to Emerson, Suffolk capitalized on a fielding mishap. Catherine Carignan reached first on a throwing error by the host third baseman Ally Lacey and advanced to second in time for Zellin's single through the left side to level the playing field at 1-all. 

Following a scoreless fifth, Suffolk made things lopsided in the sixth. Zellin's two-run bomb started the rally that featured a two-run double by Ella Turnbull, and RBIs by Maddie Southers and Lily Gustafson on a double and single, respectively.  

The scoring did not stop there as Suffolk added two more in the seventh. With runners on first and second thanks to back-to-back base hits from Zellin and Lily Newhall, Jolie Quintana brought the first run of the inning in on a ground-rule double to left field.  A fielding bobble by the Lions shortstop Zannotti let Newhall to easily strut in to make it 9-1.  

Emerson managed to get one run back on a passed ball but was stopped there for the 9-2 final.  

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Newhall put together a two-run, one earned, three-hit, five-walk, four-strikeout, complete-game win. 
• Jessica Gomez took the loss after allowing six runs, three earned, on nine hits and one walk with three punchouts to her credit in 5.1 innings. 
• Kate Regan came in for 1.2 innings and let up three runs, one earned, on five hits with one K  in 1.2 frames of relief. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Zellin went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Her effort at the dish featured one dinger. 
• Quitana supplied three hits, including two doubles, and one RBI. 
• Turnbull tallied two RBI on one hit, a double. 
• Southers supplied one hit, a double, one RBI, one run and one walk. 
• Newhall notched two hits and one run. 
• Gustafson added two hits, one RBI and one run. 
• Maddie Baita recorded one run and stole one base as a pinch runner.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk moved to 25-33 all-time against Emerson. 
• The win is the Rams first over the Lions since March 25, 2022, a 3-1 decision. 
• On the road, the Rams are now 14-17 versus Emerson. 
• The nine runs scored against the Lions is the most for Suffolk since an 11-10, nine-inning loss March 30, 2017. 
• The nine runs are the most runs scored in a seven-inning contest against the Lions since an 11-4 win March 30, 2016. 
• Zellin had her second homer of the year. 
• Quintana matched a career-high three hits and set a personal-best in doubles with two two-baggers. 
• Zellin set a personal-best in hits (3) and tied a career-high in RBI (3) and runs scored (2). 
• Newhall matched a personal-best in hits (2). 
• Newhall improved to 4-2 in the circle.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk looks to sweep the double feature with the Lions this afternoon.