Softball Slips Past Panthers, 3-2

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Suffolk softball escaped a runner on first and second, two-out situation in the bottom of the seventh to clip Plymouth State, 3-2, Saturday night at Fortune Road at THE Spring Games.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 3 | Plymouth State 2
RECORDS: Suffolk (2-0) | Plymouth State (2-2)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Plymouth State had a no-hitter going heading into the third before Constance Phelan headed to the plate. In her first collegiate at bat, she erased the no-no with a perfectly placed single at the edge of the center field grass. Samantha Jacques followed with a bunt that had the Panthers' defense in a tizzy. Phelan took advantage, advancing to third, and didn't stop there as an over throw to PSU's shortstop and the Phelan took advantage and rounded third. She didn't stop there though as an over throw to PSU's shortstop allowed the pitcher to put the first mark on the scoreboard.  

On the next at bat Caitlin Murphy brought Jacques in on a 13 ground out, but Suffolk's scoring didn't stop there. Grace Boehler reached on an error and two hitters later Brooke Cloak moved Boehler into scoring position with a single down the left field line. Kelly Keane followed suit with up the middle to turn it into a 3-0 Suffolk score.  

Phelan controlled things from there to maintain the three-run lead in the Rams' favor. Plymouth State made things interesting in the sixth. With a runner on second Lindsey Hall sent a deep fly ball to center. Murphy was there to gobble it up and made a bullet throw home to catch Madison Harris at the plate and Boehler made the catch to turn the double play and keep the Panthers off the board.  

Suffolk stranded two in the home half of the sixth and PSU's comeback dramatics continued into the seventh. Two outs were on the board and runners were on first and second before Phelan's day ended and Alexis Bonilla came in to lock up the winning decision.  

The fresh arm was no match for the Panthers as Ashley Deyo knocked a deep double to right to cut the margin to one, 3-2. PSU kept the blue-and-gold's fans on their toes with a pair of walks to put all the ducks in the pond. McKenzie McGrath made the play to first on Katie Burk's dribbler to third to secure the nail-biter.   

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Phelan put together a stand-up performance in the circle over 6.2 innings. In her first action of 2019, she gave up two runs on five hits and two walks and fanned a pair of hitters. 
• Bonilla picked up the save in her first action in the circle despite giving up two base on balls and one hit. 
• Kayla Mathieu put together a three-run (one earned), six-hit, one-walk, two-strikeout performance in four innings. 
• Jillian Aziz held the Rams scoreless over the final two frames and let up two walks and one hit. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Phelan anchored Suffolk at the plate as well with a 3-for-3 effort and one run scored.
• Keane and Murphy each finished with one hit and one RBI. The latter added one walk and one stolen base to her stats. 
• Jacaques contributed one hit and one run scored. 
• Cloak rounded out the Rams' seven hits with one.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk met Plymouth State for the first time. 
• The Rams opened the season 2-0 for the first time since 2016 when it lifted the lid with four consecutive victories. 
• Phelan had her first collegiate at bats. 
• Bonilla threw for the first time in her collegiate career. 
• Murphy swiped her first bag. 
• Bianca Luciano and Karina Bua made their collegiate debuts.  

POST-GAME PIC
  

COMING UP
Suffolk looks to keep its foot on the gas pedal tomorrow, Sunday, March 10 when it takes on the University of New England in a 10 a.m. matchup followed by a 12:15 p.m. contest versus Gettysburg.