Softball Set for Full Weekend; Hosts Lesley, Visits Norwich

APRIL 7 | 12:00 PM | 2:00 PM  EAST BOSTON MEMORIAL PARK EAST BOSTON, MASS. GAME 1: LIVE STATS GAME 2: LIVE STATS
Series Record - Suffolk Leads, 7-1 Last Meeting - March 14, 2013, L, 8-0 (5) Last Suffolk Win - April 24, 2007, 9-4 Streak - L1 Eyes on the Game

APRIL 8 | 1:00 PM | 3:00 PM SABINE FIELD NORTHFIELD, VT.
Series Record - Tied, 19-19 Last Meeting - May 4, 2017, W, 4-0 Last Suffolk Win - Same Streak - W2 Eyes on the Game

BOSTON – The Suffolk softball team will play back-to-back this weekend as it entertains Lesley, Saturday, April 7 before heading to Norwich Sunday, April 8. The Rams will throw the first pitch in East Boston at 12 p.m, while the first game in Northfield, Vermont, is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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LAST TIME OUT
The Suffolk softball team racked up multiple runs in every inning to cruise past Anna Maria, 23-2, in the nightcap at Scots Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex March 31.

MORE READING:  Softball Handles Anna Maria, 23-2

RAMS RUNDOWN
After going 3-1 last week, Suffolk improved to 8-6 overall on the season and 3-1 in GNAC play. 

Three everyday starters are hitting well over .400 led by McKenzie McGrath's .424 average. The third baseman has 14 hits, four RBI and 11 runs scored. Ashley Zulla (.421, 16 H, 7 RBI, 9 R) is second on the squad in average, while Payton Sylvester rounds out the top trio with the freshman hitting at a .415 clip and producing a team-high 17 hits, 18 RBI and 13 runs. Delaney Sylvester, who hits at .386, matches her sister's hits with 17 for 11 RBI and 11 runs scored. 

In the circle, Taylor Holmes leads the way with a team-best 1.62 ERA in three starts, four appearances and 21.2 innings pitched. The senior also paces the staff with 15 strikeouts. Ali Yamakaits, meanwhile, has seen the most time on the rubber, 26.2 frames and has sat down 14 hitters. Payton Sylvester is also a threat in the circle for the Rams with the freshman twirling 21.2 innings, fanning 11 batters and boasting a 2.91 ERA.

LYNX LOOK
Lesley sits at 8-4 overall after splitting a series with Emerson last Tuesday. 

Jordan Day is potent at the plate for the link as the rookie brings in a slash line of .622/.667/1.162 with 23 hits, 13 for extra bases including nine doubles for 15 RBI and 12 runs scored. Ashleigh Acker brings in a .395 average with 15 hits, 11 RBI and 11 runs to her credit. 

Day also excels for Lesley inside the circle holding down a team-best 3.02 ERA with five starts, 11 appearances and 76 strikeouts in 62.2 innings.

INSIDE THE SERIES
Suffolk rattled off seven consecutive victories to open the series with Lesley, but the Lynx blanked the Rams in the last meeting, April 24, 2013, 8-0, in five innings to make it a 7-1 series in favor of the blue-and-gold.

EYES ON THE GAME

CADETS CATCH UP
Norwich holds a 2-4 overall record and a 2-2 league ledger, but will play two doubleheaders – a series versus Lyndon State and a twinbill at Saint Joseph's (Maine) – prior to hosting the Rams on Sunday. 

Sarah Perry leads the way at the dish for the Cadets with seven hits, two RBI and two runs on a .412 average. A trio of batters each sport five hits in Katie Reid (.714), Naomi Rinaold (.385) and Makenna Wade (.455). Rinaold has brought in the most runs for the Cadets with three RBI. 

Emily Olivier and Sarah Perry are the Cadets starting duo inside the circle. Each twirler has three starts to their credit. Oliver holds a 6.13 ERA with 13 strikeouts, while Perry owns a 9.08 ERA with four Ks.

INSIDE THE SERIES
Suffolk split its regular-season series with the Cadets last season before shutting out Norwich, 4-0, in the GNAC playoffs to level the all-time series at 19 wins apiece.

EYES ON THE GAME

RUNS RECORD
Suffolk's 23 runs versus Anna Maria March 31 mark the most in the Jaclyn Davis era and the most since the Rams scored 36 in a lop-sided 36-1 victory over Southern Vermont April 17, 2006. 

24 HITS AND FOUR YEARS AGO
As a team Suffolk knocked 24 hits in its 23-2 victory over Anna Maria March 31. The 24 hits mark the most by a Rams squad since barreling 28 in a 21-0 win over Pine Manor April 14, 2014. 

DOUBLIN' UP
Suffolk placed nine doubles over the course of five innings in its 23-2 win over Anna Maria March 31 to mark not only the most under Jaclyn Davis' guidance, but just the second time in GNAC history a school has recorded nine doubles in one game and first since Rivier did so March 31, 2012. Overall, the rams became just the 30th time in NCAA Division III history to record nine or more doubles in one outing. 

BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK BOMBS
Payton Sylvester rocked three consecutive dingers in the 23-2 offensive onslaught of Anna Maria March 31 to become the 10th-ever player in NCAA Division III history to hit three homers in a row. She became the first Ram to accomplish the feat and second student-athlete across DIII this season to accomplish the feat. 

TOTAL BASES
As a team, Suffolk tallied 48 total bases in its 23-2 victory over Anna Maria March 31, which set a new record in the Jaclyn Davis era. 

Individually, Payton Sylvester had 15 total bases alone, which not only marks the most under Davis, but is the most by a NCAA DIII athlete since Charlotte Park of Monmouth matched that number April 17, 2014. With her performance Saturday, Sylvester became the eighth-ever NCAA DIII player to have 15 or more total bases in a single game. 

NINE RBI ATOP NATION
Behind a 5-for-5 effort including three three-RBI jacks, Payton Sylvester tallied nine RBI to help Suffolk run past Anna Maria, 23-2, March 31. Her nine RBI are the most by an individual in Division III this season and most under Jaclyn Davis. 

NFCA TABS SYLVESTER DIII TOP PERFORMER
Payton Sylvester had the most total bases (15) in a single game in Division III since 2007, and is now one of just eight players in history to have at least that many in a contest. For the week, she was 7-for-13 (.538) with seven runs, two doubles, four homers and 13 RBI, while also going 1-1 in the circle. For her effort, she was named a Top Performer by the NFCA. 

MORE READING: Louisville Slugger/NFCA DIIII Weekly Honors 

FPN DIII PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Payton Sylvester picked up Player of the Week accolades from Fast Pitch News after producing a .538/.588/1.615 week at the plate, becoming the first Ram in Suffolk softball history to take home the honor. 

MORE READING: Sylvester Tabbed FPN DIII Player of the Week 

GNAC CO-PLAYER & ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Payton Sylvester of the Suffolk softball team was named GNAC Corvias Co-Player and Rookie of the Week after putting together a .538 batting average and a 1.615 slugging percentage performance at the plate over four games last week. 

MORE READING: Sylvester Named GNAC Corvias Co-Player, Rookie of the Week 

ON DECK
Suffolk is set for a midweek matchup versus Regis Wednesday, March 11 at East Boston Memorial Park.