Thursday Tilt Pits Softball at Emerson

BOSTON – Suffolk softball travels across town Thursday, March 30 for a doubleheader against its Commons neighbor Emerson. The doubleheader at Rotch Field is set to begin at 5 p.m.  

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RUNDOWN ON THE RAMS
Suffolk split its twin bill at Salem State Saturday afternoon to move to 5-7 on the young season. The Rams fell in game one, 6-5, before handling game two, 11-6. 

Jill Pulek, who has played all 12 games for the Rams as their designated player, leads the way at the play with team-high numbers in hits (20) and RBI (12) with the sophomore averaging .476 at the plate and slugging .738. In nine games played, freshman Ashley Zulla has made the most of her times at bat, hitting .412, slugging .824, for four RBI and six runs scored. Devlin Frost leads the team in runs scored with 11 to go along with eight RBI off 15 hits, which lands second on the team, as the junior hits .349. 

In the circle, Ali Yamakaitis is the most consistent arm bringing a 2.19 into Thursday's tilt. The junior sits 3-3 on the season, giving up 19 runs (12 earned) off 43 hits and striking out 24 in 38.1 innings pitched. Jaclyn Flint (6.39 ERA) and Taylor Holmes (8.27 ERA) have also seen significant time in the circle this season for Suffolk. 

LOOK AT THE LIONS
Emerson, who went 1-9 in Florida, has since returned to Beantown where it swept a twin bill versus Lesley, (4-2/11-2), before falling in five to Suffolk's fellow GNAC member Johnson & Wales 11-2 Tuesday. In the midst of a homestand, the Lions welcome the Rams to Rotch Field at 3-10 on the season. 

Jacqueline DeFusco is the main force at the plate for the Lions with a .447 average, .500 on-base percentage and .579 slugging percentage. The junior has produced 17 hits, including five doubles, for three RBI and six runs. Sophomore Kallista Leonardos paces the pack in RBI with nine on 10 hits, including three homers and has scored five herself, while Alena Jones is the team leader in runs scored with eight, while adding six RBI on 12 hits. 

Six different arms have taken the circle for Emerson this season. Kodie Cash proves to be the most consistent as the junior boasts a team-best 4.00 ERA in six appearances in four starts with 16 runs allowed off 18 hits and 13 strikeouts. Keely Marquez, meanwhile, has a 5.50 ERA in seven appearances, six starts. In 34.2 innings pitched the rookie has given up 31 runs, 25 earned, off 31 hits and sat down nine batters. 

INSIDE THE SERIES
The Suffolk, Emerson rivalry dates back to first season of Suffolk softball, 1987, with the Lions holding the series lead, 30-21. The Rams swept the doubleheader last season by scores of 2-1 and 11-4. 

EYES ON THE GAME

100 WINS
With the 11-6 victory at Salem State, Jaclyn Davis picked up her 100th win on Suffolk's bench. She is just the second coach in the Rams' 33-year history to eclipse the 100-win mark. Davis joins Elaine Schwagger (100-82) as the only two coaches in Suffolk's softball annals to win 100 games in their careers at the helm of the program. 

GNAC CORVIAS ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Ashley Zulla of the Suffolk softball team has been named the GNAC Corvias Rookie of the Week after batting 0.625, slugging 1.375 and putting together a 0.667 on-base percentage during a doubleheader at Salem State Saturday, the league office announced Monday afternoon. 

MORE READING: Zulla Named GNAC Corvias Rookie of the Week 

GNAC CORVIAS PITCHER OF THE WEEK
In the first week of action, Ali Yamakaitis threw her way to GNAC Corvias Pitcher of the Week March 13 with the junior going 2-0 in a pair of starts with a 0.54 ERA. 

MORE READING: Yamakaitis Earns GNAC Corvias Pitcher of the Week

COMING UP
Suffolk opens its home and GNAC slate Saturday, April 1 when Norwich stops by East Boston Memorial Park for a 12 p.m. first pitch.