Sixth Stanza Sends Softball Past UNE in Doubleheader Opener, 2-1

BIDDEFORD, Maine – Suffolk softball came back and put up two runs in the sixth inning to defeat the University of New England, 2-1, Wednesday afternoon in game one of a CCC twinbill.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2 | UNE 1
RECORDS: Suffolk (10-14, 6-7 CCC) | UNE (3-2, 2-1 CCC)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams had just a pair of base runners over the first three innings before the game to a halt due to a lighting sighting. After the required 30-minute wait, Suffolk saw a chance in the top of the fourth. With two outs and runners in the corners Kelly Keane faced a big at bat. The senior first baseman could not connect and went down swinging to keep things scoreless.  

The zeros on the board would not last much longer as the Nor'Easters notched a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Taylor Depot had a pair of base runners to work with as Kylie Lavallee reached on a fielder's choice and Liz Scheurich used a bunt to single. UNE's shortstop logged a base hit through the left side to score Lavallee. The runs would stop there as Keane gloved a foul at first to keep the distance down to one run.  

Suffolk got that run back and added another to flip the script in its favor. Ally Cifaratta jump started the rally with a one-out single to short. Ashley Zulla followed suit with a double to left center before Brooke Cloak plated the game-tying run with a single to the circle. Cloak sniped second then Savannah Scripter sent a high ball to right. Zulla scored on the sac fly to give the Rams a 2-1 edge.  

Constance Phelan controlled the Nor'Easters in the bottom of the sixth and retired the side in the seventh to lokc up the win for Suffolk.  

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Phelan put together a one-run, five-hit, one-walk, four-strikeout day together over 7.0 innings. 
• Jordan Strum let up two runs on five hits and one walk with five strikeouts in the 7.0 frames.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Scripter went 2-for-2 at the dish with one RBI on a sac fly. 
• Cloak contributed one RBI, one hit and one stolen base. 
• Zulla produced one hit, a double, and one run. 
• Cifaratta supplied one hit and one run. 
• Murphy sniped one base. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk improved to 3-1 versus UNE. 
• Cloak stole one base for the second time in her career, first since April 14, 2019 versus St. Joseph (Conn.). 
• Scripter had a sac fly for the first time in her career.  

POST-GAME PIC
  

SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
The Rams and Nor'Easters are scheduled to conclude the doubleheader tonight.