CLAREMONT, Calif. – Suffolk softball poured in five runs in the first inning en route to a 6-3 victory over Claremont Mudd Scripps in game two of a non-conference twinbill at Athena Field.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 6 | Claremont Mudd Scripps 3
RECORDS: Suffolk (3-1) | Claremont Mudd Scripps (3-2-1) 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Suffolk leapt out to a 5-0 cushion in the first frame. Jolie Quintana ignited the scoring with a two-out double that plated Ava Lanza, who reached on a fielder's choice. Clair Basaldua, Julia Mills and Lily Newhall followed with base hits and all scored courtesy of Dana Still's double down the right field line for the five-run lead. Mills earned an RBI during that rally as well as her single brought in Lanza. 
• Two innings later the Rams padded their advantage. Once again Quintana's bat made noise as the right-handed hitter laced a double down the left field line to get the top of the third underway. A passed ball pushed the captain into prime scoring position in time for Mills' single to the pitcher that allowed Quintana to come in to make it 6-0 Suffolk. 
• Claremont Mudd Scripps threatened in the bottom of the sixth as it used four hits and one Rams' error to slice the margin in half. 
• After Suffolk went 3-up, 3-down, in the top of the seventh, Ana Federico led off the home half of the frame with a single through the left side. After two walks, Alex Wedemyer kept the inning and game going as she drew a walk to bring the tying run to the dish. Composure paid off for Cynthia Rucinski as she fanned Avia Tuguldur swinging to preserve the victory. 

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Rucinski registered a three-run, two-earned, seven-hit, three-walk, four-strikeout, complete-game win.
• Caroline Cappetto took the loss as she allowed five runs on five hits and one walk in 1.0 inning. 
• Perri Derian came in in relief for the Athenas and limited the Rams to one unearned run on four hits and one walk with one strikeout in 6.0 frames.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Quintana finished with two hits, both doubles, one RBI and two runs scored. 
• Mills went 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run. 
• Still brought in three runs on hit, a double. 
• Basaldua added two hits and one run. 
• Newhall notched one hit, one run and one walk.
• Briad barreled one hit, a double.

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk defeated Claremont Mudd Scripps for the first time in program history. 
• The Rams moved to 1-1 against CMS all-time. 
• Quintana matched a career-high two doubles. 
• Still recorded the first RBI of her collegiate career. 
• Basaldua registered her first collegiate hit and run scored.
• Briad had the first extra-base hit of her collegiate career, a double.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk heads back to New England where it will prep for its Spring Break trip to Florida. The Ram set for eight games at The Spring Games March 8-12.