Endicott Walks Past Softball in Twinbill Opener, 13-6

EAST BOSTON – Endicott's offense was firing on all cylinders to grab a 13-6 decision over Suffolk softball in game one of CCC double feature at East Boston Memorial Park. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 6 | Endicott 13
RECORDS: Suffolk (5-10, 3-4 CCC) | Endicott (3-0, 3-0 CCC)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
The first frame foreshadowed what could be a long game as the Gulls gained a two-run lead that bloomed into a 5-0 cushion after 1.5 innings. The scoring featured a lead-off jack from Katie Watts.  

Suffolk made up ground in the home half of the second when Leina Belog sent a no-doubter over the left field fence and brought in Ashley Zulla and Savannah Scripter, who singled and walked, respectively, to trim the gap to two, 5-3. 

Endicott restored its five-run advantage and then some in its next time at the plate. With one run on the board already in the top of the third Caitlin Murphy attempted to rob Watts' second homer of the day. Suffolk's centerfielder had her glove on it, but it fell out at the last minute, which allowed two Gulls to come in to make it a 7-3 game.  

More scoring came for the visitors in the top of the fourth and fifth and the Rams were chasing seven, 10-3. 

Suffolk responded in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Murphy singled to right field, advance to second on a wild pitch and stole third in a face-first dive to get into scoring position. Ally Cifaratta's barreled the ball through the left side to bring in the Rams run in chip the margin down to six. 

For every inch the blue-and-gold made up, the Gulls went a mile. That can be said for the top of the sixth when Endicott tacked on two more runs to put the run-rule into play. 

With the mercy-rule looming, Suffolk erased the idea of ending the game early as it quickly loaded the bases. Belog started with a base on balls and Brooke Cloak and Rachel Doan followed with singles. After Rebecca Gonzalez went down swinging, Murphy struck a single field to plate Belog and Clock and cut the distance in half, 12-6. 

A pitching switch by the visitors kept Suffolk's comeback at bay and the game transitioned to the seventh where the Gulls hit another ball over the fence. This time Raven Comtois sent the playing flying to left field fence to stretch the lead to 13-6. 

Maria Hanchuk, who came in to heave for the Gulls, allowed a pair of Rams to reach, but took care of business from there to seal up the victory for the visitors. 

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Kennedy Reyes slipped to 3-4 on the season after allowing five runs on three hits and walks, respectively with a pair of punchouts through 1.2 innings. 
• Belog allowed eight runs, three earned, on eight hits and three walks with a pair of Ks in 5.1 innings. 
• Jaylin Couto started in the circle and fired 3.0 innings in which she let up three runs on four hits and one walk with two strikeouts. 
• Gwen Stafford earned the decision after throwing 2.1 innings of relief. She had a three-run, five-hit, two-walk, five-punchout outing.  
• Hanchuck put together 1.2 frames of scoreless relief with three punchouts, one hit and one walk.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Cifaratta, Doan and Murphy all contributed two hits. 
• Murphy added two RBI, one run and one stolen base. 
• Belog had an all-around day at the dish with three RBI, two runs scored and two walks. 
• Cifaratta chipped in one RBI. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Belog and Murphy each brought their hit streak to seven games. 
• Belog knocked her third homer of the year. 
• Belog reached a personal-best in innings pitched. 
• Doan had a career-high two hits. 

POST-GAME PIC
 

SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
The last game of the home-and-home series between Suffolk and Endicott comes up this afternoon.