Déjà vu: Softball Beats Gordon Again, 5-1

REVERE, Mass. – History seemed to repeat itself in the nightcap of a Conference of New England (CNE) doubleheader Saturday as Suffolk softball rallied around the finesse throwing of Cynthia Rucinski to take down Gordon by an identical margin of game one, 5-1, at Griswold Park.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 5 | Gordon 1
RECORDS: Suffolk (14-11, 5-3 CNE) | Gordon (9-16, 2-8 CNE)  

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Jolie Quintana doubled to open Suffolk's offense and three batters later Lily Newhall traded places with her with a double of her own that gave the Rams a 1-0 lead in the first. 
• A solo shot off Catherine Carignan's bat over the center two innings later doubled the distance to 2-0 Suffolk. 
• The Rams escaped danger in the top of the fourth. Fighting Scots found their way on first and second behind a base hit and a four-pitch walk. A passed ball pushed the runners to second and third with Lauren Parker at the plate. Rucinski kept her composure through a seven-pitch at bat and fanned Parker swinging to keep a zero on Gordon's side of the board. 
• The Fighting Scots managed to break through in the top of the fifth. A pair of singles and an error by Suffolk's shortstop Julia Mills chucked the bags for Gordon. Isabella Rivera laced a single up the middle that brought in the first run for the visitor. Rucisnki and the Rams got out of the inning with just one-run allowed as she fanned Emilie Adelmann looking for the last out to bring up the blue-and-gold bats. 
• Ava Lanza ignited a two-out rally with a double to left center. Carignan collected one RBI with a single to right center to restore the two-run gap, 3-1.
• Insurance came for the host in the bottom of the sixth. Dana Still and Claire Basaldua coupled singles together and two batters later, Roma Braid's base hit through the right side scored Still. That run made the Fighting Scots make a change in the circle as Kathryn Melendy came in to deal for Gordon. Quintana took a high strike to set-up a double steal that scored pinch runner Charis Fenter and extended the edge to 5-1. 
• Gordon managed to get one base runner in the top of the seventh as Caoimhe Wernsing worked a two-out walk, but she would be stranded on first as Carignan caught a loud out in center to lock up the sweeping victory. 

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Rucinski compiled a one-unearned run, five-hist, two-walk, nine-strikeout, complete-game victory. 
• Adelmann let up five runs on nine hits and one walk with one strikeout over 5.2 innings.
• Melendy tossed 0.1 inning of scoreless, hitless relief. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Carignan recorded two RBI on two hits, including one bomb, and scored one run. 
• Lanza logged a 2-for-3 performance at the plate with one double and one run scored. 
• Newhall notched one RBI with one hit, a double. 
• Braid tallied one RBI on one hit. 
• Quintana registered one hit, a double, and one run. 
• Still added one hit, one run and one walk. 
• Fenter scored one run. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk has defeated Gordon in five straight meetings to move to 10-3 in the all-time series. 
• The Rams sport a 6-2 record against the Fighting Scots under Megan Cook's guidance. 
• Carignan hit her third homer of the year. 
• Rucinski matched a career-high nine strikeouts.  
• Braid (2 games, 3 hits), Still (9 games, 13 hits), Newhall (2 games, 2 hits), Quintana (2 games, 2 hits) and Carignan (2 games, 4 hits) all extended their hit streaks. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk takes its win streak to Bristol, Rhode Island, tomorrow, Sunday, April 12 for a twin bill at Roger Williams. Game one has a 12:00 p.m. first pitch.