Softball Heads to Maine for GNAC Second Round

BOSTON – The Suffolk softball team's quest to GNAC glory begins Thursday, May 4 as the third-seeded Rams head to Standish, Maine, for a 3 p.m. second-round matchup versus sixth-seeded Norwich. The winner of the contest advances in the winner bracket and will face second-seeded St. Joseph's Maine at 5:30 p.m. 

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THE SCHEDULE
First-Round – Tuesday, May 2 (single-elimination)
Game 1: #8 Simmons defeated #5 St. Joseph (Conn.), 6-4
Game 2: #6 Norwich defeated #7 Emmanuel, 7-2

Second-Round – Thursday, May 4 (double-elimination begins)
Game 3: #8 Simmons vs. #4 Albertus Magnus (at #1 JWU) – 3 PM
Game 4: #6 Norwich vs. #3 Suffolk (at #2 St. Joseph's (Maine)) – 3 PM
Game 5: Game 3 winner at #1 JWU – 5:30 PM
Game 6: Game 4 winner at #2 St. Joseph's (Maine) – 5:30 PM

Semifinals – Saturday, May 6 (hosted by #1 JWU)
Game 7: Game 4 loser vs. Game 5 loser (elimination game) – 10 AM
Game 8: Game 3 loser vs. Game 6 loser (elimination game) – 12:30 PM
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner – 3 PM
Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner (elimination game) – 5:30 PM 

Championship – Sunday, May 7 (hosted by #1 JWU)
Game 11: Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 winner (elimination game) – 10 AM
Game 12: Game 11 winner vs. Game 9 winner – 12:30 PM
Game 13: if necessary – 3 PM 

RUNDOWN ON THE RAMS
Suffolk wrapped up its regular season with a split at Framingham State to head into the tournament 25-15 overall. 

Delaney Sylvester has been a catalyst during Suffolk's season, hitting at a .423 clip and boasting a .474 on-base percentage to go with a .707 slugging percentage. The junior catcher is second on the squad in RBI (34), hits (52) and runs (24), while Jill Pulek, who owns a slash line of .396/.420/.724, leads the way with 53 hits, 41 RBI and 28 runs scored.

A trio of arms have taken the circle for the Rams this season. Ali Yamakaitis, who has twirled 113.0 innings, has allowed 54 runs (37 earned) on 102 hits, punched out 71 batters for a 2.29 ERA.  Taylor Holmes, meanwhile, owns a 3.36 ERA with 59 runs (49 earned) on 114 hits with a team-best 77 strikeouts in 102.0 frames of action. Jaclyn Flint has been a powerful force for Suffolk in and out of the circle with the sophomore bringing a 3.39 ERA into the tournament as well as a .344 average at the plate with 32 hits, 22 RBI and 21 runs scored. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Suffolk softball team saw its 11-game win streak come to an end as the Rams dropped their regular season finale to Framingham State 6-3 Thursday afternoon at Maple Valley Field. 

MORE READING: Framingham State Snatches Softball's Streak, 6-3

SUFFOLK IN THE GNAC TOURNEY
The Rams head into the tournament field for the sixth straight season and fifth time as the third season. Suffolk makes its fifth consecutive conference championship appearance under Jaclyn Davis and first time as the third seed with Davis on the bench. 

NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Delaney Sylvester of the Suffolk softball team added more hardware to her growing collection as the junior picked up Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III National Player of the Week, the organization announced Wednesday afternoon.

MORE READING: Sylvester Scores Louisville Slugger/NFCA DIII National Player of the Week

CATCH UP ON THE CADETS
Norwich, who secured the sixth seed with a 13-10 league ledger, defeated seventh seeded Emmanuel, 7-2, in the play-in game to advance to Thursday's tilt.

Madison Miller, who has played all, but one game this season for the Cadets, leads the way at the dish with a .417 average. Naomi Rinaldo's .377 falls in a close second. Rinaldo produces team-best numbers in hits (46), RBI (30) and runs scored (22), with Miller coming in a close second with 45 hits to go with 18 runs scored and 16 RBI.  

WE MEET AGAIN
After falling 5-1 to Norwich in the two-game series opener, the Suffolk softball team rallied for a 5-0 win over the Cadets in the nightcap in GNAC doubleheader at East Boston Memorial Park April 20.

MORE READING: Splitsville: Norwich Grabs Game One, Softball Shutouts Game Two

INSIDE THE SERIES
With the regular-season split versus the Cadets, Suffolk trails the all-time series against Norwich, 19-18. 

EYES ON THE GAME

MONKS MENTIONABLES
St. Joe's secured a bye as the Monks took the second seed in the tournament with 17-5 record against conference foes. In their last outing, SJC fell to Albertus Magnus, 6-0.  

Carla Tripp's bat leads the way for the Monks, hitting .406 with 41 hits, four RBI and 34 runs scored. Meghan Elliott (.356/.485/.396; 36 H, 20 RBI, 23 R) and Jennifer Murphy (.330/.375/.384; 29 H, 15 RBI, 4 R), add a spark at the palte for SJC.

The Monks two main starters in the circle, Kylie McFadden and Kirstal Smith, have ERAs sub 3.00 with the former coming in at 1.83 in 99.2 innings and the latter owning an ERA of 2.46. Smith has sat down 72 batters, while McFadden owns 38 strikeouts.

WE MEET AGAIN
The Suffolk softball team tied things up in the seventh, but St. Joseph's (Maine) walked away with the win, 4-3, to split the GNAC doubleheader April 15 at Richard Bailey Field.

MORE READING: Softball Splits with St. Joe's, Falls in Game 2, 4-3

INSIDE THE SERIES
After splitting the doubleheader at St. Joe's earlier this season, the Monks maintain a 19-11 lead in the all-time series versus Suffolk.

EYES ON THE GAME
 

COMING UP
Depending on results, GNAC Tournament actions carries into the weekend at Johnson & Wale.