Softball Hits Past Johnson & Wales, 6-1, in Game 2

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Suffolk softball team shook off a game one offensive onslaught by Johnson & Wales and put one of its own together in the nightcap with a season-high 14 hits to defeat the Wildcats, 6-1, to close the GNAC doubleheader at Scots Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 6, Johnson & Wales 1
RECORDS: Suffolk (6-6, 1-1 GNAC) | Johnson & Wales (6-7, 3-1 GNAC) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk and JWU swapped runs in the opening frame. The Rams got their offense going with two outs as Devlin Frost kept the blue-and-gold alive with a walk. Jaclyn Flint followed suit with a single to center before and Delaney Sylvester knocked a single to push the runners over before Frost took advantage of a mistake by the Wildcats catcher to break open the scoring. The hosts, meanwhile, saw B Duperry come in after walking, moving to second on a second bunt and using T Semanchik's double to center to score. 

Back-to-back scoreless frames ensued before Payton Sylvester went yard for the first time in her collegiate career and brought in Sydney Littlefield, who led off the top of the fourth with a walk, in the process to give the Rams a 3-1 edge. 

Flint collected two RBI and pushed Suffolk's advantage to 5-1 in the top of the sixth. The junior barreled a double to left center to bring in Grace Boehler and Frost, who each reached on a single. 

The Wildcats looked to make up ground in the fifth and sixth with runners on, but the Rams had other things in mind. Suffolk's defense backed up Taylor Holmes to keep JWU scoreless heading into the final frame. 

Ashley Zulla rounded out the Rams runs with a lead-off, solo shot to open the seventh. The Wildcats threaten in the home half of the seven with two runners on, but Suffolk kept them there to secure the 6-1 victory and the series split with their conference counterpart. 

PITCHER PICTURE

• Holmes went the full 7.0 innings and grabbed the win with a one-run, eight-hit, two-walk, six-strikeout evening.
• Three different pitchers saw action for the Wildcats. Starter Saxon Bresnahan suffered the setback as she gave up one run on efour hits and one walk in 1.1 innings.
• MJ Bourgeois went 1.2 frames, allowing a pair of runs on five hits, two walks and sat down one hitter.
• Kristin Frost closed the outing, going the final 4.0. Despite four Ks, she let up three runs on five hits. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Five Rams racked up multi-hit outings for Suffolk's 14 total hits.
• Flint and Boehler each went 3-for-4 at the plate. Flint had two RBI with one double, while Boehler scored one run.
• Zulla and Delaney Sylvester each went 2-for-4. One of Zulla's two hits went over the fence for one RBI and one run on the sophomore's stat line.
• Frost registered a 2-for-3 outing with a pair of runs.
• Payton Sylvester's lone hit on the night was good for four bases as the freshman recorded two RBI and one run scored.   

NOTEWORTHY

• Holmes improved to 3-0 inside the circle and threw a season-high six strikeouts.
• Suffolk's season-high 14 hits are the most since knocking 17 in a 9-2 GNAC postseason victory over Albertus Magnus May 7, 2017.
• Flint matched a caerer-high three hits to match a season-best two RBI.
• Frost matched a season-best two hits and scored a season-high two runs.
• Boehler's three hits mark a personal-best for the rookie.
• Payton Sylvester went yard for the first time in her collegiate career and matched a career-high two RBI. 

POST-GAME PIC

COMING UP
Suffolk takes a day off before taking on Anna Maria Saturday, March 31. The Rams and AMCATS will take JWU's field in Providence, Rhode Island, for a doubleheader. Game one is set to begin at 12 p.m.