Emerson, Simmons on Softball’s Weekend Slate

SUFFOLK at EMERSON
Date Time Venue Video Stats - Game 1 Stats - Game 2 Series Last Meeting   Last Suffolk Win Streak	Friday, March 25 3:00 PM (DH) Rotch Field Boston, Mass. YouTube GoSuffolkRams.com GoSuffolkRams.com 22-31 April 16, 2019, L, 5-4 March 30, 2017, W, 8-0 L1

SUFFOLK vs. SIMMONS
Date Time Venue Video Stats - Game 1 Stats - Game 2 Program Series Last Meeting Last Suffolk Win Streak	Saturday, March 26 12:00 PM (DH) Daly Field Newton, Mass. Suffolk Playsight GoSuffolkRams.com GoSuffolkRams.com Digital Program 25-20 May 3, 2019, L, 8-1 April 29, 2019, W, 14-0 (5) L1

BOSTON – Suffolk softball is back in New England and ready to get to work as doubleheaders with Emerson and Simons make up the Rams' weekend scheduled. The blue-and-gold will first battle the Lions in a city clash at Rotch Field Friday, March 25 at 3 p.m., before hosting the Sharks at Daly Field Saturday, March 26 at 12 p.m. 

SOCIAL SAYINGS
Ram Nation has a chance to keep up with all the latest news and notes on Suffolk Athletics, its student-athletes and teams by following the Rams on  Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Fans are encouraged to use the hashtag #RamNation a behind-the-scene look at Suffolk Athletics.

LAST TIME OUT
Jenny Jacob was near perfection in the circle as she twirled a complete-game one-hitter to pace Suffolk softball to a 3-0 shutout over SUNY Poly Thursday night to wrap up the Rams action at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic.  

Jacobs was dominant all evening as the junior had a perfect game going through 4.2 innings and allowed just one base runner on a walk in the top of the fifth. For the game, the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, native threw just 79 pitches, with 63 strikes. 

MORE READING: Jacob Deals One-Hit Gem, Softball Blanks SUNY Poly, 3-0 

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk had a successful Spring Training Trip as it went 5-3 at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  

Ally Cifaratta had a hot bat in South Carolina as the junior third basemen slashed .520/.556/.560 with a team-high 13 hits to go along with six runs and four RBI. Caitlin Murphy has double-digit hits as well with 10 behind a .400 average. The centerfield has scored a team-high in runs scored (7) and stolen bases (4) with four RBI to her credit. Ava Brandow has brought in the most runs with seven behind eight hits. The freshman is batting .400. 

In the circle, Suffolk's staff has compiled a 3.17 ERA paced by Ella Turnbull's (0.68) and Jenny Jacob's (1.62) sub-2.00 ERA. In two appearances, one start, Turnbull owns a 1-0 leger in 10.1 frames of work with 10 strikeouts. Jacob, meanwhile, is 1-1 with one save in her 13.0 innings with a team-best 20 punchouts. Brandow made the most of her lone appearance in which she built a 2.33 ERA with a pair of Ks for one save.   

LIONS LOOK
Emerson rides a seven-game win streak into Friday's outing that pushed the Lions' ledger to 10-2 overall.  

Makenzie Killough is the main force at the plate for Emerson with a .563 average, .643 on-base and .656 slugging percentage. The sophomore has produced 18 hits for eight RBI and 10 runs scored. Calli Pratt, who is batting .341, has double figures in hits (14), RBI (12) and runs scored (10). Claire Overton rounds out the top trio of the dish with eight hits and 10 RBI behind a .320 average to go along with eight runs scored. 

The Lions have relied on just three twirlers through a dozen games. Pratt brings in staff-best numbers in ERA (1.75), strikeouts (49) and innings pitched (36.0) with an unbeaten 5-0 mark and one save. Jessica Gomez is Emerson's usual starter with all eight of her appearances coming in nods and four of which is threw complete games. Gomez holds a 2.63 ERA and 45 Ks after 34.2 innings of work. Karagan Knowles rounds out the pitching cotangent with a 2.47 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 11.1 innings scattered over three appearances, two starts. 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• The Suffolk, Emerson series is one of the oldest in the books, dating back to 1987.
• The Rams are 22-31 all-time against the Lions. 
• The blue-and-gold last met Emerson April 16, 2019. The Rams slipped in that battle, 5-4. 
• Suffolk looks for its last win over the Lions since an 8-0 shutout March 30, 2017. 
• On the road, the Rams are 11-17 versus Emerson. 
• As the home team Suffolk sports an 11-14 record against the Lions.
• There have been 10 shutouts in the all-time series. 
• Suffolk is 6-4 when a team is kept off the scoreboard in the series with Emerson.  

EYES ON THE GAME 
 

SHARKS SAYINGS
Simmons holds a 6-7-1 overall record. The Sharks most recently took the field in a twinbill against Eastern Nazarene, which it split with a game one 5-4 win and a 9-5 nightcap setback.  

Shannon McMahon leads the way at the dish with 19 hits, 13 RBI and seven runs scored on a .413 average. Alex Morang is a top threat offensively for Sharks as well with 18 hits and eight RBI behind a .400 average with five runs scored. Jordyn Rubin completes the top three batters with 17 hits, 12 RBI, four runs scored and five stolen bases.  

Maddie Castigliego is Simmons' go-to hurler, appearing in all, but one of the Sharks' 14 games. She has assembled a 3.59 ERA in 80.0 innings of action with 48 strikeouts.  Paige Concannon owns a 5.48 ERA and has fanned 13 batters in her 15.1 innings over five contests.  

INSIDE THE SERIES

• The Suffolk, Simmons series dates back to 1998. 
• Suffolk sits 25-20 all-time against the Sharks. 
• The foes last met in the 2019 GNAC Tournament where Suffolk fell 8-1. 
• The Rams are in the hunt to take down the Sharks for the first time since April 29, 2019 when they blanked Simmons in five innings, 14-0, behind a no-hitter from Payton Sylvester.
• As the home team, Suffolk is 15-8.
• On the road, the Rams are 9-8. versus the Sharks. 
• On a neutral diamond, the blue-and-gold is 1-4. 
• There have has been 11 shutouts in the all-time series.  

EYES ON THE GAME

RAMS RECOGNITION
Jenny Jacob of the Suffolk softball team has been awarded Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Pitcher of the Week after her standout Spring Training March 14-20.

MORE READING: Jacob Named CCC Pitcher of the Week

RAM OF THE WEEK
Suffolk student-athletes went to work over Spring Break and there were some standout performances along the way. Ram Nation helped decide the standout performer through a Twitter poll. 

MORE READING: Jacob Garners Ram of the Week

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk continues its Beantown battles Tuesday, March 29 when it heads UMass Boston for a twinbill for a 3 p.m. game one.