Softball Comes Up Short in Game One with Endicott, 6-5

BEVERLY, Mass. – Suffolk softball took a one-run lead into the top of the seventh, but a fielding mishap by the Rams resulted in three runs for the Gulls, which allowed Endicott to take the first game of a Conference of New England (CNE) doubleheader, 6-4, Tuesday afternoon.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 4 | Endicott 6
RECORDS: Suffolk (10-11, 4-1 CNE) | Endicott (12-7, 6-1 CNE)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first. Catherine Carignan barreled a double to right center and Lily Gustafsontraded places with her with a two-bagger of her own to the opposite side of the outfield to open the scoring. One out and a wild pitch later, Gustafson waited on third base and tagged up on Delaney Doidge's loud out to right to double the distance to a pair.  

The Rams lengthened their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the second. Jolie Quintana led off with a base hit to right center, swiped second, advanced to third on Avery Carvalho's ground out to second, and scored behind a wild pitch.  

All the ground the blue-and-gold created was erased in the top of the third. The Gulls filled the bags with a single and back-to-back base on balls. A sac fly from Abby McClaffin put Endicott on the board, before Chloe Shapleigh's single up the middle brought in two runs to lock the game at 3-all. 

Two innings later, Suffolk snuck back in front. Another double factored into the blue-and-gold's scoring as Ava Brandow opened the inning with a two-base knock to center. Diana Rucinski's single to center pushed Brandow to third in time for Gustafson to collect the go-ahead RBI on a sac fly to left. 

With one out, the Gulls filled the bags in the top of the seventh behind a single, walk and Rams' error. Gustafson gloved Shapleigh's pop up at short to put the second out to put Suffolk one out away from victory, however, Cynthia Rucinski hit Paige Berdos, which allowed the tying run to come in. A wild pitch by the sophomore allowed the go-ahead run to score and a bases loaded by worked by Caitlyn Romero added on insurance tally for Endicott, 6-4.  

Suffolk had the winning run at the plate with runners in the corners and two outs but could not complete the rally as Lily Newhall grounded into the final out of the day to seal the Rams' setback. 

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Cynthia Rucinski took the loss as she gave up five runs, three earned, on five hits and six walks with three strikeouts over 7.0 innings. 
• Analise Grady earned the decision behind a rou-run, nine-hit, one-walk, five-strikeout performance.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Gustafson went 2-for-3 with one double, two RBI, one run and one sac fly. 
• Mills also went 2-for-3. 
• Doidge brought in one run on a sac fly. 
• Carignan chipped in one hit, a double, and one run. 
• Quintana and Bradow had one hit and one run apiece with the latter's hit good for two bases. 
• Ella Turnbull tallied one hit as a pinch hitter. 
• Diana Rucinski recorded one hit.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk looks to bounce back in the nightcap with the Gulls.