Baseball Runs Past Emerson in Seven, 20-2

EAST BOSTON – On a rainy Patriots Day in Boston, Suffolk baseball secured Boston Commons bragging rights with a convincing 20-2, seven-inning triumph over Beantown neighbor Emerson Monday at East Boston Memorial Park.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 20 | Emerson 2
RECORDS: Suffolk (9-14) | Emerson (15-15)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk's scoring started in the first as Joe Ward brought in a pair of runs with a double to left center. Harry Paintercapitalized on an overthrow by the Lions' third baseman Cameron Motola, which allowed the inning to keep going. Marc Birbiglia worked a walk to put two Rams on to set-up Ward for two RBI.  

The blue-and-gold's offensive output doubled in the second. A bases loaded fielder's choice by Max Iorio allowed the first run to come in before Painter barreled bomb to dead center to stretch the distance to six.  

Suffolk scored four more in the third to extend the edge to 10-0. Free bases filled the bags that Jonny Gilbride's double down the left field line emptied. Painter produced his fourth RBI of the day on an infield single that scored Gilbride. 

Emerson eliminated the shutout in the fourth. The Lions tacked on two runs to chip the distance down to eight, 10-2. 

The Rams were held scoreless in the fourth before putting a six-spot up in the fifth to make things lopsided, 16-2. Iorio and Frassica each brought in a pair of runs on a triple and single, respectively, with Painter and Gilbride in on the RBI action as well behind a sac fly and a bases loaded hit by pitch. 

With a commanding lead, Suffolk kept its foot on the gas pedal in the sixth to pad the cushion even more. With the bases chucked Luke Harder tripled to right center to cleared the bases and Frassica followed with a sac fly to right to push the margin to 20-2.

Shreyas Parikh forced the Lions to leave the bases loaded in the top of the seventh to keep the score at 20-2 as the game was gamed. 

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Painter earned the win behind a two-run, two-hit, three-walk, eight-strikeout, 5.0-inning effort. 
• Parikh shoved 2.0 innings of scoreless, hitless relief with three punchouts and a pair of walks. 
• Sam Gutkin took the loss after allowing seven runs, five earned, on three hits and three walks with one K in 2.0 innings of work. 
• Austin Saji also worked 2.0 frames for Emerson. He gave up three runs on two hits and three walks with three strikeouts. 
• Huon Fitzpatrick (6 R, 4 H, 4 BB), Logan Reilly (3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) and Lucas Simms (1R, 1 H) all came out of the pen for 0.2 innings for the visitors. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Painter went 2-for-4 with one homer for five RBI and three runs and one stolen base. 
• Ward logged a 2-for-4 effort that featured a double, with two RBI and two runs. 
• Iorio provided three RBI on his lone hit, a triple, with two runs scored. 
• Gilbride brought in four runs on his lone hit, a double, and scored twice. 
• Harder brought in three runs on his hit, a triple, and scored three times. 
• Frassica tallied three RBI on one hit and one sac fly to go along with one run scored. 
• Sam Armbruster scored three runs and had one hit. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk has outscored Emerson 36-5 over the last two meetings. 
• The Rams have defeated the Lions in 21 straight meetings. 
• Suffolk is now 27-1 all-time against Emerson. 
• As the home team, Suffolk is 13-1 versus the Lions. 
• The 20 runs are the most for Suffolk since a 20-5, seven-inning triumph over Gordon April 24, 2021.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk concludes its six-game non-conference stretch Thursday, April 20 when it entertains UMass Dartmouth in Eastie at 3:30 p.m.