BEVERLY, Mass. – Suffolk softball was unable to overcome an early five-run deficit and dropped a Conference of New England (CNE) contest to Endicott, 7-3, Sunday afternoon in game one of a double feature at North Field.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 3 | Endicott 7
RECORDS: Suffolk (17-17, 8-9 CNE) | Endicott (20-10, 14-3 CNE) 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Endicott grabbed a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first thanks in large part due to Elyse Saccoccio's three-run bomb. 
• An inning later the Gulls flew ahead 5-0 thanks to the combination of a Suffolk error followed by a Maddie Beeley single up the middle. 
• A Rams' response came in the top of the third when Catherine Carignan barreled a three-run jack to center field to slice the gap to two, 5-3. The right-handed hitter brought in Ava Lanza and Julia Mills along with her, both of whom singled. 
• The score stood still until the home half of the sixth when insurance came for Endicott courtesy of Ella Tower's two-run single that restore the four-run margin from the first frame. 
• Despite a lead-off walk by pinch hitter Claire Basaldua, Suffolk was unable to muster a comeback and suffered the setback. 

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Cynthia Rucinski took the loss as she gave up seven runs, six earned, on nine hits and five walks with three strikeouts over 6.0 innings. 
• Endicott's reliever Analise Grady earns the decision behind 4.0 innings of scoreless, hitless relief with one walk and four punchouts. 
• Emma Sheehan started and gave up three runs on six hits with one K through 3.0 frames of action. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Carignan went 2-for-3. One of her hits was a homer and she brought in all three runs and scored one herself. 
• Mills went 2-for-3 as well with one run scored. 
• Lanza logged one hit and one run. 
• Lily Newhall pitched in one hit, a double. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Carignan notched her fourth homer of the season. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk aims to bounce back in game two with Endicott this afternoon.