Rhode Island College Runs Past Softball, 12-7

CLERMONT, Fla. – A lopsided fourth inning in favor of the Anchorwomen proved to be the difference as Suffolk softball was unable to make up the ground and fell to Rhode Island College, 12-7, Monday at Legends Way at The Spring Games.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 7 | Rhode Island College 12
RECORDS: Suffolk (5-3) | Rhode Island College (5-1)  

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Rhode Island College wasted little time to get on the board as it grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Noelle Simmons walked then put on her running shoes when Sophia Cruda laid a sac bunt down and was safe at the opposite corner. A productive ground out to short by Joey Meyer plated Simmons for the first run of the day. 
• Suffolk took the lead in the home half of the inning. Like the Anchorwomen, Roma Braid opened the frame with a walk. Ava Lanza knocked a base hit to left and Jolie Quintana wore one to load the bases. Julia Millsroped a deep single to left field that brought in Braid and Lanza to give the Rams a 2-1 edge. 
• RIC responded in the top of the second on one hit, a pair of blue-and-gold fielding hiccups and wild pitches, which put Suffolk in a 4-2 hole. 
• That gap grew to eight, 10-2, as the Anchorwomen rallied around the combination of four hits, two walks, smart base running and one fielding error. 
• RIC added extra insurance in the top of the fifth in the form of two runs to turn it into a 10-run difference. 
• Abby Barnaby and Ava Lanza knocked singles to get the bottom of the fifth underway. Three batters later with two outs on the board and a full count, Catherine Carignan sent a no doubter over the left center fence to turn off the mercy-rule. 
• The Rams continued to chip down the deficit in the bottom of the sixth. Sara Butera singled, took second on a wild pitch and used Barnaby's ground out to second to take third. Lanza's single to center plated Butera to make it a six-run game, 12-6. 
• Suffolk was not done yet. Mills singled advanced to second on a ground out and scored on a fielding error when Basadula put the ball in play to chip the margin to five. That remained as the Anchorwomen's defense calmed down and got the next two outs on a fielder's choice and swinging K. 

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Cynthia Rucinski allowed 12 runs, six earned, on 11 hits and four walks with four punchouts in 7.0 innings. 
• Gabby Cunha started for RIC and assembled a 2-run, four-hit, one-walk, two-strikeout effort over 3.0 innings. 
• Mia Crudale earned the decision behind a four-run, seven-hit, one-strikeout effort over 3.0 innings. 
• Ashleigh von der Linden closed for the Anchorwomen and let up one hit and one unearned run with one punchout.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Lanza went 3-for-4 with two runs and one RBI. 
• Mills registered two hits, two RBI and one run scored. 
• Basldua added two hits. 
• Barnaby and Butera supplied one hit and one run each.  
• Carignan brought in three runs on one hit, a jack, and scored once.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk and Rhode Island College met for the first time. 
• Mills (9 hits) and Basaldua (7 hits) pushed their hit streaks to five games. The latter matched a career-high two hits. 
• Quintana extended her hit streak to three games. She has one hit in each game during that span.  
• Carignan had her first homer of the season, ninth of her collegiate career. She produced a career-high three RBI. 
• Newhall has had a hit in back-to-back games. She logged her second double of the season.
• Lanza tied a career-high three hits and scored a personal-best two runs.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk is off tomorrow and returns to the diamond in the Sunshine State Wednesday, March 11 against Skidmore at 9:00 a.m.