Softball Blanks Roger Williams, 9-0, in Five Innings in Game 1

BOSTON – Behind a standout shoving from Constance Phelan in the circle, and a productive offensive output, Suffolk softball shutout Roger Williams, 9-0, in five innings Saturday afternoon at East Boston Memorial Park.    

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 9 | Roger Williams 0
RECORDS: Suffolk (11-15) | Roger Williams (15-14)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk's scoring started in the second stanza. The Rams put all the ducks in the pond as Brooke Cloak and Kelly Keane sandwiched base hits to the outfield around a base on balls by Savannah Scripter. Cloak slid into home on a passed by before Leina Belog walked to keep the bases chucked. The Hawks made a switch in the circle as Taylor Myers took over for Lia Nocella.  

The Rams tested Myers from the gets go as Bianca Luciano barreled a single to second to bring in Scripter and Caitlin Murphy collected an RBI on an unassisted ground out to first. Hailey Cockroft plated Belog with a hit right back to Myers. That hit, the fourth of the frame, made it 4-0 Suffolk with two innings in the books.  

Two innings later the Suffolk extended the distance to six. Luciano and Murphy used their speed to their advantage with infield singles to take first and second. A passed ball pushed the Rams over and Cockroft lobbed a single to left center to clear the bags and stretch matters to 6-0 blue-and-gold.  

Phelan retired the side in the top of the fifth and more Rams runs came in the bottom of the inning. Scripter started things off with a single to right field and Keane drew a base on balls. During Belog's at bat with a 2-0 count, Roger Williams made a switch on the rubber for the second time on the afternoon as Jesse Robicheaw got the ball from Myers.  

The twirler exchange didn't help. Not only did Belog walk, but Luciano did too. That lefty's base on balls brought on a run in and kept the bags chucked. Murphy managed to put a hit together, a double to center field in fact, to score a pair of Rams to lengthen the cushion to 9-0, which clinched the mercy-rule victory.   

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Phelan assembled a complete-game, two-hit, no-walk, three-strikeout shutout. 
• Nocella suffered the setback after giving up four runs on three hits and three walks in just 1.0 inning. 
• Myers worked 3.0 frames in which she let up four runs on seven hits and one walk. 
• Robicheaw allowed one run on one hit and two walks in less than an inning of action.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Cockroft contributed a 3-for-3 effort with three RBI and one stolen base. 
• Murphy went 2-for-3 with one double for three RBI, one run and one walk.
• Keane chipped in a 2-for-2 effort with two runs scored and one walk.
• Luciano regisetered a 2-for-2 plate performance with a pair of RBI and one run scored.  
• Scripter scored twice and had one hit and walk, respectively. 
• Belog scored a pair of runs and drew two walks.  
• Cloak added one hit and one run scored.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk remains unbeaten all-time against Roger Williams, 6-0. 
• The Rams are 4-0 when competing as the home team against the Hawks. 
• Suffolk shutout RWU for the first time in the all-time series. 
• The Rams run-ruled the Hawks for the first time in program history. 
• Suffolk improved toe 3-0 in the Jaclyn Davis era against the Hawks. 
• The shutout is the second of the season for Suffolk. 
• Phelan produced her second collegiate shutout, first since blanking Anna Maria April 25, 2019. 
• Phelan notched her 11th complete game, ninth of the season. 
• Cockroft matched a career-high three hits and notched a personal-best three RBI. 
• Murphy brought in a career-best three runs.  

POST-GAME PIC
  

SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
The Rams and Hawks wrap up the doubleheader this afternoon.