Phelan Deals, Softball Takes Game One at Wentworth, 2-1

BOSTON – Constance Phelan was near perfect over the first six innings and showed her composure in the seventh to throw Suffolk softball past Wentworth, 2-1, in game one of a CCC doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Carr Diamond. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2 | Wentworth 1
RECORDS: Suffolk (7-12, 4-5 CCC) | Wentworth (0-5, 0-3 CCC)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk's scorings started in the second stanza. Ashley Zulla led off with a single to second and moved over when Leina Belog put the ball into play. Brooke Cloak's single to the circle loaded the bases, which allowed Kelly Keaneto collect an RBI on her first at bat since March 2020. When the senior first baseman put the ball in play Wentworth's defense went for the force out at home, however, Zulla was too quick to the plate and was called safe to give the blue-and-gold a one-run edge. 

Over the first five innings, Phelan's only hit allowed came from the first batter she faced. The senior dealt from there, allowing just one addition base runner on a walk in the bottom of the fourth. The stealth pitching from the right handed let the Rams cling to their one-run early lead.  

Wentworth's twirler, Kayla DeMediros, was just as impressive. After allowing one run in the first Suffolk threatened in the second, but stranded a pair. From there, DeMediros limited the Rams opportunities to keep the hosts in the game.  

In the sixth, Suffolk started to figure DeMediros out. Zulla opened things up again with a single, this time to left center. A Leopards error was followed by a single to left field by Savannah Scripter, which put all the ducks in the pond. That would be the end of DeMediros' day as E. Hancock came in to take over.  

Hancock secured two straight outs, but Hailey Cockroft managed to muscle a single up the middle to tack on a second run for Suffolk.  

The game was in Phelan's hands from there as no more insurance came off the Rams' bats. Wentworth had one base runner in the sixth behind a mishap from Suffolk's second baseman. She was kept there though as a long out was gobbled up by Cloak in left to keep the hosts off the scoreboard. 

Wentworth kept Phelan on her toes in the seventh. DeMedeiros and Celidih Higgins erased the one-hit game as each barreled a single with one out to put a pair of Leopards on the bags for the first time of the day. 

Phelan now faced the game-winning run at the dish not once, but twice. She fanned the first, Sabrina Haarstick swinging, but couldn't lock up the second for the final out of the day, as Brionna Myers knocked a double to right field to slice the Rams' advantage in half, 2-1.  

During Hancock's at bat, Phelan helped herself, cleaning field a ground out to herself for the last out of the day that locked up the win for the Rams.   

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Phelan finished with a three-hit, one-walk, five-strikeout, complete-game outing. The Leopards had one run off Suffolk's starter, however, it was unearned. 
• DeMedeiros slipped to 0-3 on the year after letting up two runs, one earned, on six hits and sat down one batter. 
• Hancock threw 2.0 innings of scoreless relief with one hit and one punchout to her credit.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Zulla paced the Rams' offensively with a 2-for-4 effort. The senior scored both of Suffolk's runs. 
• Cockroft chipped in one hit and one RBI. 
• Belog, Ally Cifaratta, Cloak and Bianca Luciano each supplied one hit. 
• Keane brought in one run.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk defeated Wentworth for the fourth straight meeting to move to 14-3 all-time against the Leopards. 
• The Rams remain unbeaten all-time versus the Leopards under Jaclyn Davis' guidance, 3-0. 
• Suffolk improved to 5-1 on the road versus WIT. 
• Phelan threw the 13th complete-game of her collegiate career.  

POST-GAME PIC
 

SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
The Rams and Leopards conclude the CCC clashes this afternoon.