Softball to Battle UMass Boston Thursday

SUFFOLK vs. UMASS BOSTON
Date Time Venue Game 1 Series Last Meeting   Last Suffolk Win Streak	Thursday, March 30 3:30 PM UMB Softball Field Boston, Mass. GoSuffolkRams.com 8-15 April 19, 2022, W, 12-1 Same W1

BOSTON – Suffolk softball is set for a single game with UMass Boston Thursday, March 30. The Rams will host the Beacons at the UMB Softball Field at 3:30 p.m. 

Action was scheduled to be a twinbill in Eastie, however, due to field conditions the location of the game was moved to UMass Boston's campus and the extreme temperatures once the sun goes down has made the Beantown battle a single-game affair. 

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
Suffolk softball saw its 4-2 lead vanish as Emerson exploded for a nine-run fifth frame en route to a 14-8 decision over the Rams in the nightcap of a non-conference doubleheader Friday at East Boston Memorial Park. 

MORE READING: Fifth Inning Sends Emerson Past Softball in Nightcap

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk looks to snap a seven-game skid that put the Rams at 1-9 on the season.  

Three batters have double-digit hits in Savannah Scripter, with a team-best 13, and Maddie Southers and Ava Brandow, who have 10 each. Brandow and Southers have both brought in five runs to lead the way, while Scripter has four RBI to her credit. Ally Cifaratta and Delaney Doidge have scored a team-best five times apiece. The former has added eight hits and a pair of RBI to the blue-and-gold's offense, while the latter has chipped in six hits, including four doubles, and three RBI.  

In the circle, Ella Turnbull has assembled the best numbers with a 5.55 ERA in 17.2 innings and 14 strikeouts. Brandow has seen the most action with 24.2 innings over six appearances, two starts, with a staff-best 16 Ks. 

BEACONS BREAKDOWN
UMass Boston split a doubleheader with Emmanuel March 24 to move to 10-3 on the year.  

Four Beacons have led the way at the dish in Lauren Minder (11 H, 16 RBI, 9 R), Amauri English (14 H, 14 RBI, 6 R), Bri Melchionda (12 H, 12 RBI, 12 R) and Sydney Sanden (21 H, 10 RBI, 11 R).  

Melchionda seems to be UMB's ace with a 1.34 ERA in 41.2 innings over seven appearances, six starts, with 57 strikeouts. Emily Doble is the other usual starter for the Beacons. She holds a 4.71 ERA over 35.2 innings with 19 punchouts. 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk is 8-15 all-time against UMass Boston after splitting its doubleheader with them a year ago. 
• Suffolk is 2-4 when playing at UMB.
• The Rams will play at the UMB Softball Field as the home team for the first time. 
• Two games have been decided via run-rule. Suffolk is 1-1 in mercy-rule decisions. 
• There has been one shutout in the all-time series. UMass Boston won that via 11-0 decision April 13, 2010. 
• Suffolk is 1-1 versus UMB under Janet Maguire's guidance.

EYES ON THE GAME

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk is scheduled to lift the lid on its Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) calendar this weekend. The Rams are set to head to Gordon Saturday, April 1 before hosting Roger Williams Sunday, April 2. Both doubleheaders have a 12 p.m., game one start.