GNAC Glory Up for Grabs this Weekend, Softball Faces JWU in Semis

MAY 5 | 3:00 PM EAST BOSTON MEMORIAL PARK EAST BOSTON, MASS.
Series Record - Suffolk Trails, 20-21 Last Meeting - March 29, 2018, W, 6-1 Last Suffolk Win - Same Streak - W1 Eyes on the Game

BOSTON – After an extra-inning walk-off homer in the second round of GNAC Tournament, top-seeded Suffolk softball sets its sights on the semifinals where it will face second-seeded Johnson & Wales Saturday, May 5 at 3:00 p.m. at East Boston Memorial Park.

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2018 GNAC SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

FIRST ROUND - WEDNESDAY, MAY 2 - SINGLE ELIMINATION
Game 1: #5 Albertus Magnus defeated #8 Lasell, 6-5 | BOX
Game 2: #7 Emmanuel defeated #6 Saint Joseph (Conn.), 5-2 | BOX

SECOND ROUND - THURSDAY, MAY 3 - DOUBLE ELIMINATION
Game 3: #4 Saint Joseph's (Maine) defeated #5 Albertus Magnus vs. at #1 Suffolk, 7-3 | BOX
Game 4: #7 Emmanuel defeated #3 Simmons at JWU, 8-3 | BOX  
Game 5: #1 Suffolk defeated #4 Saint Joseph's (Maine), 2-1 (9 Innings) | BOX
Game 6: #2 JWU defeated #7 Emmanuel, 4-0 | BOX

SEMIFINALS - SATURDAY, MAY 5 - HOSTED AT #1 SUFFOLK
Game 7: #3 Simmons vs. #4 Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Elimination Game) - 10:00 AM | Live Stats
Game 8: #5 Albertus Magnus vs. #7 Emmanuel (Elimination Game) - 12:30 PM | Live Stats
Game 9: #2 JWU vs #1 Suffolk - 3:00 PM | Live Stats
Game 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 (Elimination Game) - 5:30 PM

CHAMPIONSHIP - SUNDAY, MAY 6 - HOSTED AT #1 SUFFOLK
Game 11: Loser Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 (Elimination Game) - 10:00 AM
Game 12: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 9 - 12:30 PM
Game 13: If Necessary - 3:00 PM 

LAST TIME OUT
The top-seeded Suffolk softball team had a flare for the dramatic in its GNAC Tournament opener as a classic pitcher's duel took the game to nine innings before Delaney Sylvester barreled a two RBI bomb to send the Rams past fourth-seeded Saint Joseph's (Maine), 2-1, Thursday night at East Boston Memorial Park.

MORE READING: Sylvester's Shot Sends Softball Past St. Joseph's (Maine), 2-1 in Nine

RUNDOWN ON THE RAMS
Suffolk (30-7) secured its 30th win of the season Thursday night marking the fourth time in the Rams' history that eclipsed the 30-victory plateau. 

Delaney Sylvester, who is on a 19-game hit streak, continues to lead the way for the conference's top offense. The senior catcher owns a slash line of .482/.520/.798 with 55 hits, 44 RBI and 33 runs scored to her credit. Ashley Zulla and Payton Sylvester also provide a punch at the plate. Zulla, who is hitting .438, has 46 hits, 24 RBI and 31 runs scored, while Payton Sylvester has provided 53 hits and 40 RBI on a .438 connection rate with 38 runs and eight stolen bases. 

In the circle, the three-armed contingent of Taylor Holmes, Payton Sylvester and Ali Yamakaitis have held down the fort. Payton Sylvester owns a staff-best ERA of 1.45 through 48.1 innings with 46 strikeouts. Holmes falls in a close second with a 1.58 ERA in 62.0 innings and 53 Ks, while Yamakaitis is the most experienced arm, working 93.2 innings and coming in just above a 2.00 ERA at 2.02. The senior RHP has sat down a team-best 67 hitters.

SUFFOLK IN THE GNAC TOURNEY
Suffolk has taken the GNAC Tournament field as the top seed for the third time in the last four years and third-time overall with the Rams making their seventh straight post-season run. 

The Rams advance to the winner's bracket semifinals for the second straight season and fifth time overall. 

Suffolk looks to hoist the conference crown for the first time since the inaugural season in 1996, since which, the Rams have appeared in the tournament bracket 17 times including six straight under Jaclyn Davis.

WILDCAT WAYS
Johnson & Wales, who shared the GNAC Regular Season Title with the Rams, shutout seventh-seeded Emmanuel, 4-0, in the GNAC Quarterfinals to punch its ticket into the winner's bracket. 

Tiffani Semanchik is the main force at the plate for JWU with a .481 average and a .526 on-base percentage. Jennifer Corona, who is also hitting over .400 at .429, has 39 hits and 26 RBI with 16 runs scored. Katie Rufo looks to be another every day starter batting over .400 at .404 with 40 hits, 38 RBI and 11 runs scored on her stat line. 

Corona is not only the Wildcats number one arm, but has proven her ability amongst her conference counterparts as well. Through 123.0 innings, the senior has sat down an impressive 138 batters and boasts a 1.31 ERA. Kristin Frost is also a go-to twirler for JWU with 53.0 innings of work under her belt for a 1.85 ERA and 52 Ks.

INSIDE THE SERIES
Suffolk and JWU last met in the Rams' GNAC opener in March. After each team picked up one win in in the regular season, Suffolk continues to trail the all-time series with the Wildcats, 21-20.

WE MEET AGAIN
Johnson & Wales put on an offensive performance to run past Suffolk in game one March 29, but the Rams rallied in the nightcap, 6-1, to secure the series split. 

MORE READING: Johnson & Wales Runs Past Softball in Game 1 | Softball Hits Past Johnson & Wales, 6-1, in Game 2

SUFFOLK VS. JWU IN GNAC TOURNEY
Suffolk and Johnson & Wales were common foes in last year's GNAC Tournament, meeting three times. After falling 6-0 in the first meeting, a semifinals showdown, Suffolk rallied in the do-or-die championship contest, defeating JWU, 3-2, to force the winner-take-all-game. The Wildcats came out on top, however, to claim the conference crown for the third straight season. 

Suffolk and JWU with tangle for the fifth time in the conference's postseason. The Rams are 1-3 all-time in the league's playoffs against the Wildcats.

EYES ON THE GAME

ON DECK
The winner of Saturday's semifinal will automatically advance to the championship May 6 at 12:30 p.m. while the losing team will fight its way back in Sunday morning at 10 a.m.