Softball Bested by Montclair State in Spring Games Finale

CLERMONT, Fla. – Suffolk softball concluded its time at The Spring Games with a 10-4 setback to Montclair State Friday night at Legends Way.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 4 | Montclair State 10
RECORDS: Suffolk (5-7) | Montclair State (5-5)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk chased six after 3.5 frames as Montclair State scored one in the first, two in the second and three in the fourth.  

The Rams burst on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Catherine Carignan started the rally with a hopping single up the middle and moved over to third on Becky Zellin's double to right center. Maddie Southers grounded out to short scored the first blue-and-gold run of the game to trim the deficit down to five, 6-1.  

The blue-and-gold got another run back in the home half of the fifth. Ella Turnbull sent a single to short and Ashley Hubner took the first baseman's spot on the bags. The pinch runner used a bobble by the Red Hawks' second baseman to advance to third and came in Carignan's ground out to the pitcher to make it a 6-2 game. 

Montclair State cut off Suffolk's comeback as it extended its advantage even further in the sixth. The Red Hawks capitalized on two Rams errors and three hits to glo up 9-2.  

A Maddie Southers leadoff triple led to a Rams run on an Ava Brandow ground out to third.  

MSU got that run back in the top of the seventh however, to restore the seven-run margin.  

Pinch hitters brought a little life to the blue-and-gold at the plate. The Rams managed to tack on one more run on a fielding mishap by MSU's left fielder for the 10-4 final. 

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Cynthia Rucinksi allowed nine runs, three earned, on 10 hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 5.2 innings. 
• Lily Newhall put together a one-run, one-hit effort in 1.1 innings of relief. 
• Stephanie Seretiz earned the win for the Red Hawks. She put together a four-run (two earend) six-hit, one-walk, one-strikeout performance over 4.0 frames. 
• Ali Cavallaro compiled 3.0 scoreless innings with four hits and one walk given up and one K. 

STATTISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Carignan chipped in a 2-for-3 effort with one RBI and one run. 
• Turnbull also went 2-for-3. 
• Zellin recorded a 2-for-4 effort at the dish with one double. 
• Southers supplied one hit, a triple, one RBI and one run. 
• Newhall notched one hit, one run and one stolen base. 
• Charis Fenter and Julia Mills each produced one hit. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk and Montclair State met for the third time, first since 2020. 
• Fenter made her Suffolk debut as a pinch hitter and got her first hit. 
• Zellin and Turnbull both  tied a career-high two hits. 
• Newhall stole the third base of her career. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk flies back to Boston to prepare for a Beantown battle Friday, March 22 against Emerson. Game one of the twinbill has a 3:00 p.m. first pitch.