Baseball to Face WNE in CCC Elimination Contest

SUFFOLK vs. WESTERN NEW ENGLAND
Date Time Venue Video Stats Series Last Meeting   Last Suffolk Win Streak	Friday, May 10 1:15 PM North Field Beverly, Mass. Stretch GoSuffolkRams.com 22-22 April 14, 2024, W, 6-3 Same W2

BOSTON – The third seed Suffolk baseball team aims to survive and advance in the 2024 Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament Friday, May 10 when it plays fifth seed Western New England in an elimination contest. 

The game is slated to start 45 minutes after game one of the day, that features top seed Endicott versus second seed Roger Williams. That winner's bracket battle is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. at North Field in Beverly, Massachusetts.

SOCIAL SAYINGS
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2024 CCC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
Tuesday, May 7 
Game 1: No. 5 Western New England defeated No. 4 Nichols, 24-6 – Box Score
Game 2: No. 3 Suffolk defeated No. 6 Wentworth, 12-3 – Box Score  

Thursday, May 9 (games will take place 45 minutes after previous game)
Game 3: No. 1 Endicott defeated No. 5 Western New England, 9-5 – Box Score
Game 4: No. 2 Roger Williams defeated No. 3 Suffolk, 3-1 – Box Score
Game 5: No. 5 Western New England defeated No. 4 Nichols ^, 12-4 - Box Score
Game 6: No. 3 Suffolk defeated No. 6 Wentworth *, 3-1 – Box Score

Friday, May 9 (games to take place at highest remaining seed)
Game 7: No. 2 Roger Williams at No. 1 Endicott – 10:00 a.m.
Game 8: No. 3 Suffolk vs. No. 5 Western New England ^ – 45 minutes after Game 7
Game 9: Game 7 Loser vs. Game 8 Winner – 45 minutes after Game 8 

Saturday, May 10 (games to take place at highest remaining seed)
Game 10: Game 7 Winner vs. Game 9 Winner – 12:00 p.m.
Game 11: Game 10 Winner vs. Game 10 Loser (If Necessary) – 30 minutes after game 10  

^ North Field – Endicott – Beverly, Mass. | * Paolino Field – Roger Williams – Bristol, R.I. 

SUFFOLK IN THE CCC TOURNAMENT

• The Rams are in the midst of their fourth trip and fourth in as many seasons in the CCC Tournament. 
• Suffolk is competing as the third seed in the CCC Tournament for the first time. 
• As the three seed, the blue-and-gold is 2-1 in the CCC playoffs. 
• Suffolk is now 4-7 in the CCC postseason. 
• Suffolk is unbeaten, 3-0, at home in CCC Tournament clashes. 
• On the road, the Rams are 0-7 when playing in the CCC Tournament.
• In neutral site games, Suffolk sports a 1-0 record in the CCC postseason. 

LAST TIME OUT
The third seed Suffolk baseball team stayed alive in the 2024 Commonwealth Coast Conference tournament as it took down sixth seed Wentworth, 3-1, behind a complete-game from Harry Painter Thursday afternoon at Paolino Field on the campus of Roger Williams.   

MORE READING: Baseball Escapes Elimination, Holds Off Wentworth, 3-1 

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk found its way in the losers bracket after falling to second seed Roger Williams, 3-1, Thursday morning. The Rams stayed alive with a win over Wentworth by an identical score to brin ga 26-16 overall record to Beverly, Massachusetts.  

Despite the first round when the blue-and-gold's offense exploded for a dozen runs, the Rams were limited on the second day of the CCC Tournament to just four. Throughout the season, Suffolk has produced 346 runs behind 415 hits anchored by upperclassmen Harry Painter (60 H, 42 RBI, 47 R), Jonny Gilbride (59 H, 41 RBI, 50 R), Alex Sorenti-Burns (45 H, 44 RBI, 39 R) and Garret Roberts (52 H, 34 RBI, 44 R). 

With three games in three days, Suffolk's staff will likely call upon Brett Bucklin to start things off on the mound Friday. In 52.1 innings he has assembled a team-best 2.06 ERA with 37 strikeouts. TJ Dimitriou (25.0 IP, 16 K) and Gregory Kaufmann (22.1 IP, 18 K) are also ready to go from the blue-and-gold bullpen.

GET TO KNOW THE GOLDEN BEARS
Similar to Suffolk, the fifth-seeded Western New England (22-19) team captured a convincing first round victory as it handled fourth seed Nichols, 24-6. On Thursday morning, WNE fell to top seed Endicott, 9-5, before avoiding elimination behind a 12-4 triumph over the Bison.  

Offensively, Jack Loftus leads the way with 40 hits and RBI, respectively, as well as 34 runs. Cody Waterbury has contributed 41 hits, 38 RBI and 40 runs with John Bova (47 H, 36 RBI, 30 R) and Sean Jamieson (42 H, 35 RBI, 38 R) threats at the plate as well.  

The Golden Bears have two usual starters well-rested for Friday in Tanner Wall (28.2 IP, 6.91 ERA, 21 K) and Tyler Curtis (23.0 IP, 3.91 ERA, 21 K).

WE MEET AGAIN
Suffolk handled Western New England in its regular season twinbill April 14. The Rams hit past the Golden Bears in game one, 16-7, and topped WNE in the nightcap, 6-3. 

MORE READING: Baseball Slugs Past WNE in Game 1, 16-7 | Painter Deals, Baseball takes Care of WNE in Nightcap, 6-3 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk sits 22-22 all-time against Western New England. 
• The Rams are 4-10 in the Anthony Del Prete era against WNE. 
• Suffolk is on a two-game win streak over the Golden Bears after sweeping the regular season doubleheader April 14. 
• The two wins in a row versus WNE are a first for the blue-and-gold since stringing three together April 30, 2005-April 8, 2006.
• Suffolk and WNE have met in the CCC postseason twice. 
• The Rams are 0-2 in the CCC Tournament against WNE. 
• Suffolk has never played as the home team against Western New England in the CCC Tournament. 
• The foes will meet at a neutral site in the CCC Tournament for the first time. 
• Every matchup between Suffolk and WNE in the CCC Tournament has come in an elimination contest. 
• In conference tournaments, Suffolk is 4-7 versus the Golden Bears with a dozen (12) battles in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (2000-07).

EYES ON THE GAME

WHAT'S NEXT?
The winning team stays alive and will face the losing team of top seed Endicott and second seed Roger Williams in the third and final game of Friday's action.