Softball Ready for GNAC Second-Round

THURSDAY, MAY 2 // 4:30 PM  CLEMENTE FIELD BOSTON, MASS.
EYES ON THE GAME // LIVE STATS // VIDEO SERIES RECORD // SUFFOLK TRAILS, 17-19 LAST MEETING // APRIL 30, 2019, W, 8-2 LAST SUFFOLK WIN // SAME STREAK // W6

** PENDING GAME 1 RESULTS **  THURSDAY, MAY 2 // 6:30 PM  CLEMENTE FIELD BOSTON, MASS.
EYES ON THE GAME // LIVE STATS // VIDEO SERIES RECORD // SUFFOLK LEADS, 43-21 LAST MEETING // APRIL 18, 2019, W, 14-6 (6) LAST SUFFOLK WIN // SAME STREAK // W1

BOSTON – The Suffolk softball team's quest to GNAC glory begins Thursday, May 2 as the North Division's second-seed heads across town to Robert Clemente Field in Fenway for a 4:30 p.m. second-round matchup versus the North side's fourth-seed Saint Joseph's (Maine). The winner of that contest will play again at 6:30 p.m. versus the North side's top seed, Emmanuel.

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2019 GNAC SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

First Round – Tuesday, April 30 – Single Elimination
North Play-In: #3N Saint Joseph's (Maine) defeated #4N Norwich, 9-4 – Box Score
South Play-In:  #3S Johnson & Wales defeated #4S Albertus Magnus, 2-0 – Box Score 

Second Round – Thursday, May 2 – Double Elimination
Game 1: #3N Saint Joseph's (Maine) vs. #2N Suffolk at Emmanuel – 4:30 p.m. – Live Stats | Video
Game 2: #3S Johnson & Wales vs. #2S Saint Joseph (Conn.) at Simmons – 4:30 p.m. – Video
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. #1N Emmanuel – 6:30 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 2 vs #1S Simmons – 7:00 p.m. 

Quarterfinals / Semifinals – Saturday, May 4 – Daly Field – Boston, Mass.
Game 5: Loser of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 1 – 10:00 a.m. (Elimination Game)
Game 6: Loser of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 2 – 12:30 p.m. (Elimination Game)
Game 7: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 – 3:00 p.m.
Game 8: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6 – 5:30 p.m. (Elimination Game) 

Semifinals / Championship – Sunday, May 5 – Daly Field – Boston, Mass.
Game 9: Winner of Game 8 vs. Loser Game 7 – 10:00 a.m. (Elimination Game)
Game 10: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 9 – 12:30 p.m.
Game 11: If Necessary – 3:00 p.m.

RUNDOWN ON THE RAMS
Suffolk captured its sixth straight 20-win season Monday afternoon and heads into the conference tournament 21-16 overall. 

The Rams' bats found their grove in the series at Saint Joseph's (Maine) producing over 28 hits and 18 runs over the two games. Jaclyn Flint and Caitlin Murphy have provided the one-two punch at the plate all season long of the blue-and-gold. With the pair each providing 46 hits. Flint has brought in a team-best 27 runs, while Murphy has scored a squad-high 30 times. Murphy, who is batting a .426, is also the conference's biggest threat on the bags with 23 stolen bases this season. 

Each of Suffolk's arms have had their moments this year with Kennedy Reyes being the most consistent. The freshman twirler holds a team-best 3.53 ERA over 75.1 innings pitched with 40 strikeouts. Hannah DelCervo has picked up the pace as of late. The senior, who has shoved 70.2 innings, brings in a 4.36 ERA with a staff-best 44 Ks. Constance Phelan completes the trio of starters for Suffolk with an ERA of 4.85 and 40 punchouts.

LAST TIME OUT
Suffolk softball secured a GNAC series sweep over Saint Joseph's (Maine) behind an 8-2 win against the Monks Monday night at Richard W. Bailey Field.

MORE READING: Softball Bests Saint Joseph's (Maine) in Nightcap, 8-2, Sweeps Series

SUFFOLK IN THE GNAC TOURNEY
Suffolk appears in the conference tournament bracket for the eighth straight season and 20th time overall. The Rams avoided the paly-in portion for the eighth consecutive campaign and look to raise the conference trophy for the first time since the inaugural champion was crowned in 1996.

MONKS MENTIONABLES
After falling to Suffolk in its regular-season finale, Saint Joseph's (Maine) defeated Norwich, 9-4, in the one-and-done, play-in GNAC Tournament game Tuesday to advance to the double-elimination bracket. The Monks' do-or-die win over the Cadets snapped a 10-game skid for SJC (11-21). 

Melodie Baiely's 38 hits lead the way for the Monks at the dish as the first baseman connects at a .932 rate for 19 RBI and 24 runs scored. Libby Pomerleau is also a threat at the plate with 34 hits on a .333 average to bring in 12 runs and score 23 herself. 

SJC bounces back and forth between a pair of arms; Kate Whitney and Caitlyn King. In 92.2 innings pitched, Whitney has put together a 4.53 ERA with 41 strikeouts, while King, who has worked 89.0 frames, holds a 5.90 ERA with 30 Ks. 

WE MEET AGAIN
Suffolk swept the Monks for the second straight season Monday night behind a 10-6 game one win and an 8-2 nightcap victory. 

MORE READING: Softball Secures First-Round Bye in GNAC Playoffs with 10-6 Game 1 Win at St. Joe's (Maine) | Softball Bests Saint Joseph's (Maine) in Nightcap, 8-2, Sweeps Series

INSIDE THE SERIES

• With its sweep of Saint Joseph's (Maine) in the regular-season Monday, the rams won their sixth straight game versus the Monks to move to 18-19 all-time.

SUFFOLK VS. SJC IN THE GNAC TOURNEY

• Saint Joseph's (Maine) is the most common GNAC Tournament opponent for the Rams.
• In the seven post-season matchups, Suffolk has come out on the winning side over the Monks just twice, including the last two meetings.
• The first-ever wink over SJC in the league's post-season came courtesy of Lindsay Pagno's grand slam in 2017.
• A year ago, the blue-and-gold walked-off versus the Monks in the ninth.
• Overall, Suffolk is 2-5 versus SJC in the postseason.

EYES ON THE GAME
 

SAINTS SAYINGS
Emmanuel's 24-12 overall campaign featured a near perfect 15-1 league slate which put the Saints atop the North Division standings. Suffolk was the long conference competitor to take down EC and did so in run-rule fashion in the second game of a double feature by a 14-6 decision April 18. 

Three everyday hitters for Emmanuel have produced 40-plus hits in Grace Orcutt (46), Olivia Burgos (43) and Renae Lacrois (43), while Yuleksa Ramirez-Tejeda's bat has the highest average at .398 and provided 35 hits and the second-most RBI on the squad, 32. Orcutt, who is batting .390, leads the way in RBI 34) and Burgos is the biggest threat when it comes to scoring and swiping bags with 40 runs scored and 20 stolen bases, respectively. 

Megan Kieselback is not only the top arm in the circle for Emmanuel, but is one of the biggest threats on the rubber in the league. The senior has thrown over 100 innings in which she has put together a 1.99 ERA and sat down 103 batters. Mikaela Montemangi (61.2 IP, 4.65 ERA, 34 K) and Burgos (60.0 IP, 5.60 ERA, 42 ERA) have also worked their fair share of frames for the Saints. 

WE MEET AGAIN
Suffolk bounced back from a game one, 5-3, setback at Emmanuel with an impressive 14-6, six-inning, mercy rule win in the nightcap with the Saints to split the series April 18. 

MORE READING: Emmanuel Slides Past Softball, 5-3, in Game 1 | Softball Run Rules Emmanuel, 14-6, in Six 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk split its regular-season series with Emmanuel to move to 44-21 versus the Saints' all-time.
• The Rams boasts a 12-6 record against the Saints in the Jaclyn Davis era. 

SUFFOLK VS. EMMANUEL IN THE GNAC TOURNEY

• The Rams have met the Saints six times in the GNAC postseason.
• Suffolk captured the last meeting a year ago in the do-or-die semifinal showdown with a 4-3, extra-inning decision of Emmanuel to move to 4-2 against EC in the league's playoffs. 

EYES ON THE GAME
 

WHAT'S TO COME?
With a spot secured in the double elimination portion of GNAC Tournament play, win or lose Thursday night Suffolk will continue its journey to the conference crown Saturday, May 4 at Simmons Daly Field in Boston, Massachusetts.