MILTON, Mass. – A two-run seventh and a shutdown defensive inning by the Rams propelled Suffolk softball to a 4-3 victory over Curry in game one of a Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at D. Forbes Will Field.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 4 | Curry 3
RECORDS: Suffolk (10-11, 2-1 CCC) | Curry (9-10, 0-3 CCC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
A pair of solo shots by Curry, one in the second and another in the third, gave the host a 2-0 early edge. Jillian Rogers sent the ball over the fence first for the Colonels before Renee Gonneville rocked the ball out of the yard in the third.
Suffolk's scoring did not start until the sixth. Maddie Southers supplied a dinger of her own to put the Rams on the board. Jolie Quintana and Lily Gustafson barreled back-to-back base hits to put runners on first in second and Julia Mills' single to left center brought the tying run in, which was scored by pinch runner Ashley Hubner.
The Colonels regained the advantage in the home half of the inning. With two outs and runners on second and third, after two walks and a sac bunt, Gonneville singled to right field to push Curry back in front, 3-2.
Down one in the seventh, Ava Brandow led off the inning with a single to left, took second on a fielding mishap by Curry's short stop and moved to third on Southers' single up the middle. A pitch got away from Colonels' backstop Gracie Keyes that allowed to come in and lock things at 3-all.
Curry gained composure and got two quick outs, but it would not be enough as Lily Gustafson rocked a single through the left side to bring in the go-ahead run.
Cynthia Rucinski shoved a 3-up, 3-down inning to preserve the conference victory for Suffolk.
PITCHERS PICTURE
- Rucinski recorded a three-run, seven-hit, four-walk, two-strikeout, complete-game victory.
- Rogers took the loss allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks in 7.0 innings. Curry's twirler sat down 10 Suffolk batters.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Southers went 2-for-2 with one homer, one RBI, two runs scored and one walk.
- Gustafson produced a 2-for-3 plate performance with one RBI and one walk.
- Brandown recorded one hit and one run.
- Mills brought in one run on one hit.
- Hubner added one run.
NOTEWORTHY
- Suffolk defeated Curry for the first time since game one of a double feature May 5, 2023.
- The Rams moved to 26-11 all-time against the Colonels.
- Southers had her second homer of the season.
- The Rams are 2-0 in one-run games this season.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk goes for the CCC sweep this afternoon against the Colonels.
