Softball Walks Off, Again, Takes Game 2 Over Lesley, 8-7

EAST BOSTON – For the second time in as many games and on the same day, Brianna Loughlin provided the game-winning RBI to push Suffolk softball to an 8-7 walk-off win against Lesley in the nightcap of a non-conference doubleheader at East Boston Memorial Park Tuesday night.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 8 | Lesley 7
RECORDS: Suffolk (9-9) | Lesley (12-8)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Scoring started for Suffolk in the first behind a two-out, two-run double from Kelly Keane. The first baseman scored Grace Boehler and Jaclyn Flint, who walked and singled, respectively. Constance Phelan kept the rally two-hit rally going with a single to second and on the same, Lesley's first baseman dropped the flipped pass from second, which allowed to come in an give the Rams a 3-0 lead.  

An inning later, the Rams added to their advantage when Boehler's single up the middle plated Loughlin, who opened the inning on a walk.  

Lesley leveled the playing field in the top of the third. The visitors got on the board behind a one-run base-hit by Mahlia Medin, before Jordan Day rocked a three-RBI bomb to left center to even the score at 4-4.  

Suffolk did not let the knot score stay long as they gained the edge in the home half of the third. With the bags juiced, Phelan's recorded one RBI on a productive ground out to put the blue-and-gold ahead, 5-4.  

The Rams added another run in the next inning to grow the distance back to multiple runs. Caitlin Murphy worked her way around the bases on a single, stolen base and Boehler's base hit to third. Lesley brought Kara Haga in to deal, but before the new arm became too much for the Rams to handle, Murphy scored on Ashley Zulla's ground out to the circle.  

Things were too close for comfort and Lesley's long ball threatened Suffolk's lead in the top of the sixth. After Jordan Day drew a base on balls Jordan Rabb knocked an unquestionable dinger to left field to equalize the score. A strikeout looking later and Juliana Cece matched Rabb's jack with one of her own, a solo shot to left, to put the Lynx in front, 7-6.  

Suffolk stranded two Rams' runners in the sixth to set up the thriller seventh.  

The Lynx had other things in mind an attempted to add insurance in the opening half of the final frame of regulation, but Suffolk maintained its composure to keep the one-game run intact.  

It was almost identical to the twinbill's opening comeback seventh as Flint started things with a single and an error by Lesley put runners on first and second before a wild pitch pushed them prime scoring position – second and third. Two batters later, the game-tying run came in when McKenzie McGrath collected an RBI on a productive ground out. Loughlin's heroics came into play in the next at bat as the rookie raked a single through the middle infield, allowing pinch runner Karina Bua to cross home and lift the Rams to victory.  

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Hannah DelCervo picked up her second victory in as many games behind relief effort. The RHP moved to 3-3 on the year after tossing 1.2 innings of scoreless action with just three hits and one walk allowed with one strikeout. 
• Phelan started in the circle for Suffolk and let up seven runs on seven hits and two walks with three punchouts to her credit. 
• Haga dipped to 1-1 on the year after giving up two runs on three hits and one walk over 3.1 innings of relief work. 
• Jen Thorburn earned on the nod on the rubber and let up six runs (five earned) on nine hits, three walks and fanned three hitters.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Boehler was perfect at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance with one RBI, one run and one stolen base. 
• Flint went 2-for-3 at the dish and scored twice. 
• Keane had a standout day at bat with two hits, including one double, two RBI and one run scored. 
• Murphy added two hits and one run scored.  
• Loughlin and Zulla both registered one hit, one RBI and one run scored. 
• Bua scored one run.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk moves to 11-2 all-time against Lesley with its fourth straight win against the Lynx. 
• The Rams swept the Lynx for the second straight season. 
• Suffolk holds an unblemished 4-0 record versus Lesley under Jaclyn Davis' guidance.
• Each of the blue-and-gold's win over Lesley in the last four meetings came via one-run.  

POST-GAME PIC
 

COMING UP
Suffolk takes the rest of the week off to prep for its GNAC opener Saturday, April 6 at Rivier.