Softball Starts CCC Play at WNE Saturday

SUFFOLK vs. WESTERN NEW ENGLAND
Date Time Venue Video Stats Series Last Meeting   Last Suffolk Win Streak	Saturday, March 30 12:00 PM - DH Golden Bears Softball Park Springfield, Mass. CCC Sports Network WNEGoldenBears.com 5-24 May 10, 2023, L, 8-0 (5) April 30, 2019, W, 2-0 L5

BOSTON – Suffolk softball turns its attention to its Commonwealth Coast Conference calendar this weekend when the Rams head to Springfield, Massachusetts, to face Western New England in a league twinbill that has a 12 p.m. first pitch. The blue-and-gold will bat second in both contests in Western Mass. 

SOCIAL SAYINGS
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LAST TIME OUT
Suffolk softball scored first, but could not hold onto the lead as UMass Boston put up five unanswered to hand the Rams a 5-2 game two setback in a non-conference double feature Wednesday afternoon at the UMB Softball Field.   

MORE READING: Softball Bested by UMass Boston in Game 2, 5-2

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk dipped to 7-9 on the year after being swept by a highly competitive UMass Boston team Wednesday.  

Four different bats have provided 18 hits to the Rams' offense in Catherine Carignan, Lily Gustafson, Julia Mills and Ella Turnbull. Turnull has brought in a team-best 12 RBI, while Becky Zellin has plated 11 runs on 16 hits, half of which were for extra bases in six doubles and two homers.  

In the circle, Suffolk relies on two arms as its usual starters in Cynthia Rucinski and Lily Newhall. Cynthia Rucinksi holds a 4.47 ERA over 36.0 innings in nine appearances, seven starts with 24 punchouts to her credit. Newhall, meanwhile, boasts a 4.89 ERA in 34.1 innings of work in nine appearances, five starts with 15 strikeouts. Turnbull also has struck out 15 and has assembled a 2.95 ERA over 19.0 innings.  

GET TO KNOW THE GOLDEN BEARS
Western New England is 6-5 after its 11-game outing at The Spring Games.  

Kaleigh Blades has been productive at the plate for the Golden Bears with a team-best 11 RBI on eight hits including four doubles with six runs scored. Taylor Keegan has supplied 11 hits, four RBI and seven runs scored. Alex Ferrioulo (9 H, 6 RBI, 5 R) and Kailey Carrano (8 H, 5 RBI, 5 R) are also consistent contributors to WNE's offense. 

Riley Kane and Ava Blanchard are the only two twirlers to earn a nod this season. Kane sports a 1.57 ERA in 35.2 innings with 15 strikeouts. Blanchard holds a 2.38 ERA in 32.1 innings with 24 punchouts.  

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk sits 5-24 all-time against Western New England. 
• The foes last met in the CCC Tournament, May 10, 2023. Suffolk was shutout by WNE, 8-0, in five innings. 
• The Rams look to snap a five-game skid against the Golden Bears. 
• Suffolk is in search for its first win over Western New England since a 2-0 decision April 30, 2019. 
• The last time the Rams won a game in Springfield, Massachusetts against WNE was April 29, 2006, a 2-1 decision. 

EYES ON THE GAME

SUFFOLK IN CCC OPENERS

• Suffolk is 2-1 in CCC debuts. 
• The Rams fell in their CCC opener a year ago, 9-4, to Roger Williams, April 2, 2023. 
• Suffolk lifted the lid on its CCC calendar on the road for the first time since 2022. 
• The blue-and-gold will face Western New England in its CCC debut for the first time. 

SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
The Rams step away from CCC competition Tuesday, April 2 when they host Salem State in a non-conference doubleheader at 4 p.m.