Softball Kept Quiet in Game 2 at UNE, 2-0

BIDDEFORD, Maine – Suffolk softball was unable to make its way on the scoreboard as the University of New England blanked the Rams, 2-0, in the nightcap of a Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader at Nor'Easter Diamond.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 0 | University of New England 2
RECORDS: Suffolk (14-16, 5-5 CCC) | University of New England (8-18, 4-4 CCC)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk found itself in a one-run hole after the third as the Nor'easters strung together three straight singles to put the first run on the board.  

Two innings later, the Nor'Easters doubled the distance. With the bases chucked, a wild pitch from relief twirler Cynthia Rucinski allowed UNE's pinch runner Jaiden McKenna to score and turn it into a 2-0 gap. McKenna took Olivia Howe's spot on the bags after the first baseman worked a walk.  

The Rams managed to get some offense going in the sixth as Ella Turnbull slugged a one out double to left center and Jolie Quintana followed suit with a single to short. Lily Gustafson and Diana Rucinski went down swinging in order though to keep a zero on the blue-and-gold's side of the board. 

Cynthia Rucinski retired the side in the bottom of the sixth to keep the margin at two as the game headed to the top of the seventh. Delaney Doidge drew a lead-off walk, which brought the tying run in Bella Rocha-Medeiros to the dish. The first baseman lined into a double play though and two outs went on the board quickly. Catherine Carignan got under the ball when she made contact for a routine pop up to the pitcher that sealed Suffolk's shutout setback.  

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Ashlyn Conley took the loss after giving up two runs, both earned, on six hits and three walks with one strikeout. 
• Cynthia Rucinski compiled 1.2 innings of scoreless, hitless relief. She allowed two walks and fanned one batter. 
• Mo Kinsella shoved a complete-game, five-hit, two-walk, four-strikeout shutout.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Turnbull turned in a 2-for-3 effort with both of her hits good for two bases. 
• Carginan, Quintana and Diana Rucinski had one hit each. 
• Carignan and Doidge both walked once.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk moved to 5-7 all-time against the University of New England. 
• Suffolk is now 3-2 on the road against the Nor'Easters. 
• In CCC contests, the blue-and-gold sists 3-6 versus the Nor'Easters. 
• With tonight's decision, four games between Suffolk and UNE have been decided via shutout. The Rams are 0-4 in such instances. 
• In the Megan Cook era, Suffolk is 1-1 versus UNE.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk visits Bridgewater State Wednesday, April 17 for a non-conference doubleheader.