EAST BOSTON – Suffolk softball's nightcap against Salem State came down to the wire. Despite an early deficit, the Rams managed to bring the game-winning run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but the Vikings held off the host comeback to hand the blue-and-gold a 11-8 game two setback at East Boston Memorial Park.   

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 11 | Salem State 8
RECORDS: Suffolk (8-11) | Salem State (8-7) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Salem State scored two runs in the first and second innings, respectively, to put the Rams in a 4-0 hole.  

The teams traded three runs in the third to keep the four-run game intact. A bases loaded sac fly from Lily Gustafsonbrought the first Rams run of the day in when Diana Rucinski tagged up. Another sacrifice hit, this time a perfectly placed bunt down the first base line allowed Maddie Southers scored. Diana Rucinski and Southers knocked back-to-back base hits to reach safely. Jolie Quintana, who walked, came in on Ella Turnbull's base hit to center to make it a 7-3 game. 

The Vikings lengthened their lead to five in the top of the fourth and the Rams responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning to trim the gap down to three, 8-5. In a case of déjà vu, Gustafson was at the plate with the bases loaded after Diana Rucinski and Southers singled and Quintana walked. Once again, Diana Rucinski scored on a sac fly from Suffolk's shortstop. Southers advanced to third when Diana Rucinski crossed home to put Rams in the corners. On a double steal, Southers slid under the tag at home to make it a three-run game. 

After a scoreless fifth, SSU stretched its advantage to 11-5 in the top of the sixth. Suffolk answered with one run on a Vikings error to cut the deficit down to five.  

Lily Newhall twirled a three-up, three-down inning to set-up what Suffolk hoped would be a thrilling finish.  thrilling finish.  

With one down, Catherine Carignan sent the ball over the center field fence to get the rally going. A Vikings' error, walk and single from the blue-and-gold forced Salem State to make a change in the circle as Katherine Quigley came in for Hailey Langenfeld. 

From there, Southers hit into an infield fly to put to two outs on the board. Quintana worked a bases loaded walk to bring the go-ahead run to the plate in Gustafson. The right-handed hitter lofted a ball to the outfield in her third plate appearance of the day and it was gloved safely by SSU's right fielder Alaina Giuliano, which sealed Suffolk's setback fate. \ 

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Cynthia Rucinski took the setback after giving up six runs, three earned, on two hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 2.0 innings of work. 
• Ava Brandow logged a five-run (two earned), four-hit, one-walk, two-punchout performance over 3.0 innings of relief. 
• Newhall put together 2.0 scoreless innings of relief with one hit allowed and one K. 
• Langenfeld registered the decision after 6.1 innings of work. She logged an eight-run (six earned), nine-hit, five-walk, two-strikeout effort. 
• Quigley secured the save after 0.2 scoreless frames with one walk given up.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Diana Rucinski recorded a 3-for-4 effort and scored two runs. 
• Southers supplied a 2-for-3 plate performance and two runs and one walk. 
• Carignan added two hits, including one homer, one RBI and one run. 
• Gustafson brought in two runs on a pair of sac flies. 
• Quintana walked four times, tallied one RBI and scored once. 
• Delaney Doidge added one hit, a double, one run and one walk. 
• Becky Zellin notched one run scored.  

NOTEWORTHY

• The Rams moved to 8-2 all-time against Salem State. 
• Suffolk slipped to Salem State at home for the first time to move to 3-1 as the home team against the Vikings.
• Suffolk is 1-1 against SSU in the Megan Cook era.
• Diana Rucinski produced her first multi-hit game. She finished with a personal-best three hits and two runs scored. 
• Gustafson had a career-high two sac flies. 
• Southers matched a personal-high two runs scored. 
• Carignan had her second homer of the season and second long ball in as many games. The sophomore hit home runs in back-to-back games for the first time in her collegiate career. 
• Suffolk had dingers in back-to-back contests for the second time this season. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk treks to Biddeford, Maine Saturday, April 6 for a Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader at the University of New England. Game one is scheduled to start at 12:00 p.m.