Softball Slugs it out with Albertus Magnus, Earns Doubleheader Split

EAST BOSTON – The Suffolk softball team got five runs on three homers in Game one Sunday, but fell in the to the slugging of Albertus Magnus, as the Rams earned a GNAC doubleheader split at East Boston Memorial Park. 

Jill Pulek and Devlin Frost each hit balls out of the park in the opener, a 7-1 triumph for the Rams (16-6, 7-3 GNAC), with the former knocking two jacks that each brought in two runs. Pulek became the first Ram to record two home runs in one game since Erin McAndrews did so in a 15-4 victory over Mount Ida April 14, 2013. Frost's homer led off the fourth inning. Morgan Parmeter and Lindsay Pagano also contributed to Suffolk's offense as the sophomore and junior each went 2-for-3 at the plate and scored runs and Pagano brought one in.

Taylor Holmes twirled a complete game for the blue-and-gold and improved to 7-1 on the year. The sophomore let in one run on four hits, walked three and struck out sixth.

Despite the lopsided score, Albertus Magnus (15-9, 6-6 GNAC) broke started the scoring in the initial inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Alyssa Puccilli sniped second and came home on an throwing error by Delaney Sylvester to score the Falcons lone run of the game. Pulek got Suffolk on the board with a one-out, two-run shot to right field in the bottom half of the inning to give the Rams a 2-1 lead after one. 

A three-run rally in the fourth inning would stake Suffolk to a 5-0 lead as Frost got things going with her third home run of the year, a long-shot to left field. Parmeter followed with a double and would score on Pagano's double, who came in on the next at bat thanks to a Falcons' error. 

History repeated itself for Pulek in the fifth frame, who sent her second one-out, two-RBI ball over the wall to stretch Suffolk's advantage to 7-1. Holmes and Suffolk's defense retired Albertus Magnus in order in the sixth and seventh, respectively, to secure the 7-1 triumph. 

With the bases loaded and no outs in the opening inning of Game 2, Puccilli singled to score Brianna Whitfield similar to the opener, but the tides turned quickly for the Falcons in the next at bat. An error by Pagano put Melissa Castillo on base and scored Amanda Jessey, but an ensuing over by Sylvester emptied the bases and put Suffolk in a 4-0 hole. 

The Falcons tacked on another run in the second and third, both unearned, to leap out to a 6-0 advantage, as Albertus Magnus' starter Megan Ferraro shut down the Rams' lineup for the first three innings. 

Suffolk came out swinging in the bottom of the fourth  still trailing 4-0. The Rams struck for two hits and a two fielder's choice that plated the blue-and-gold's first run of the game. 

With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Meredith Ball pulled Suffolk's second run of the day with a single to the shortstop to pull the Rams' within four, 6-2. 

Looking for a quick, three-out inning, Suffolk fell short as Megan Kelly's first collegiate homer that opened the seventh was followed by a home run by Daysia Wehder that stretched the Falcons' lead to six runs. With Jaclyn Flint now in the circle for the Rams, three different batters for Albertus Magnus grounded out the freshman pitcher to end the inning.

Suffolk attempted a comeback, but fell short after Parmeter led off with a single, and the Falcons held on for the 8-2 win. 

Sylvester's bat led the way in Game 2 as the sophomore finished 3-for-3. Ali Yamakaitis earned the start in the circle, but only saw two innings of action, giving up five runs and seven hits.

The Rams return to action Tuesday as they travel to Norwich for a conference double feature. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.