White Pitches Softball to First Win, Rams Shutout Alfred, 1-0

CLERMONT, Fla. – Alexa White threw a three-hit, one-walk, eight-strikeout, complete-game gem to anchor Suffolk softball to its first victory of the season, a 1-0 decision against Alfred Sunday afternoon at Hancock Park.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 1 | Alfred 0
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-3) | Alfred (0-2)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
White scattered four strikeouts in the first two innings and Jessica Wilcox nearly did the same thing, with a trio of Ks in the first pair of frames to keep zeros on both sides. 

The Rams looked to break up the pitcher's duel in the top of the third as it chucked the bags. Kelly Keane got the rally going with the blue-and-gold's first of four hits, a one-bagger to left, but Suffolk was held quiet by Wilcox. The twirler slung back-to-back punchouts, both swinging, to escape the jam. 

Alfred did not get more than one base runner in the third and fourth as White got the job done in the circle.  

Suffolk saw another chance to score in the fifth as two Rams got into scoring position. Once again Keane opened the action with a single, this time through the left side. Bianca Luciano took her place on the bags and scooted to second on a sac bunt by White. Another out later, Luciano stole third to get into scoring position as Caitlin Murphy worked a long at bat into a walk. The sophomore sniped second to put the pair of runners in scoring position, but Ally Cifaratta's hit resulted in a ground out to third to keep things scoreless.  

The Saxon flirted with scoring in the home half of the sixth as Alyssa Guitron barreled a double to left center and x Eaton reached after the ball fell out of Keane's glove on a routine play. Karina Bua glove A Lugo's fly ball to left on the next play to hold matters at 0-0.  

A scoreless sixth set-up an edge of your seat seventh with Keane due up for Suffolk. The junior first baseman got on base for the third time of the day, this time thanks to a misplay by the Saxon second baseman. The error let Keane take second with White's second sac bunt of the day quickly pushing her over to third. One out later, Caitlin Murphy looked to be the hero and let the ball fly to left field. Keane made a mad dash home and crossed the plate as soon as the ball hit Isabella Carillo's glove and fell to the grass to give Suffolk the only edge it needed.  

Looking to preserve the 1-0 advantage, White did just that as she retired the side with her eighth strikeout of the day coming in the process to take the win.  

PITCHERS PICTURE

• White put together a three-hit, one-walk, eight-strikeout, complete-game shutout. 
• Wilcox let up just one unearned run on an afternoon she gave up just four hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.   

STATISTCALLY SPEAKING

• Keane went 2-for-3 at the dish and scored the lone run of the contest. 
• Murphy finished with one hit, one steal and one walk. 
• Belog logged one hit, a double. 
• White put down a pair of sac bunts. 
• Luciano swiped one bag.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk and Alfred tangled for the first time. 
• White picked up her first collegiate win with a personal-best eight strikeouts. 
• White threw her first collegiate shutout. 
• The Rams shutout a foe for the first time since a nightcap 7-0 triumph over Anna Maria April 25. 
• Belog ran her hit streak to three straight games.  

Post-game pic
  

COMING UP
The Rams take tomorrow off before returning to the diamond Tuesday, 10 for two more outings. Suffolk will first clash with Westfield State at 1:45 p.m. before battling Geneva right after.