Softball Duo Picks up GNAC Corvias Pitcher, Rookie of the Week

BOSTON – For the second straight week, two members of the Suffolk softball team garnered GNAC Corvias weekly accolades as Taylor Holmes was named the league's top pitcher and Payton Sylvester was tabbed the conference's best rookie over a seven day stretch, the office announced Monday afternoon. 

Holmes receives the recognition after earning back-to-back victories on the Rams Spring Break trip. The senior RHP, who hails from Ashford, Connecticut, picked up her first win of the season, a 5-1 decision over Bethany, behind a one-run, five-hit, one-walk, three-strikeout, complete-game performance in the circle. A day later, Holmes moved to 2-0 on the year after throwing allowing just two runs on five hits and one walk while sitting down four batters in 6.0 frames in a 4-2 triumph over Gordon. 

Sylvester, meanwhile, earned her second rookie of the honor in as many weeks after contributing at every position over eight contests for the blue-and-gold. In the circle, the freshman dealt a complete-game shutout over UMass Dartmouth March 13. In the win, she gave up just four hits and one walk with four strikeouts for her second victory of the season. At the plate, she hit .389 (7-18) the 3-3 week for the Rams with two doubles and three RBI to go along with three runs scored. 

The pair, who helped Suffolk to a 5-5 Spring Break trip, is the first Suffolk pitcher and rookie combo to receive conference weekly accolades the same week in the league's record books, which dates through the 2009 campaign. Sylvester's second straight honor marks the first time the best rookie by the league hailed from Suffolk as Jill Pulek and Evelyn Marquis earned two honors apiece in 2016. Holmes, meanwhile, grabbed her second pitcher of the week nod in her collegiate career. 

Weather pending, Suffolk softball will be back in action this weekend as the Rams lift the lid on their GNAC schedule Saturday, March 24.