Softball Slips in Nightcap to Roger Williams, 4-3

BOSTON – Suffolk softball dropped a 4-3 decision to Roger Williams in the second game of a non-conference doubleheader Saturday at East Boston Memorial Park.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 3 | Roger Williams 4
RECORDS: Suffolk (11-16) | Roger Williams (15-14)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk grabbed a one-run lead in the first frame. Caitlin Murphy doubled to right center advanced to third on the throw on Hailey Cockroft's ground out to third. The Rams' centerfielder then cruised home on Ally Cifaratta's ground out to short.  

Errors cost the Rams' runs in the top of the second and kept the inning going for the Hawks, who put up three, to go ahead, 3-1.  

The Rams rallied with two outs in the home half of the inning. Murphy lobbed a base hit to left center and sniped second to get into scoring position. Perfect timing as well as Cockroft connected for a stand-up double to right field to trim the margin down to one, 3-2.  

The back-and-forth continued into the top of the fifth. Taylor Howell wore a pitch to lead off the inning and was replaced on the bags by Jax Beaulieu. The pinch runner was raring to go when Francesca Cioffi sent a shot to right field. The ball hit the fence and Bianca Luciano was there to glove it and rob the homer. In the meantime, Beaulieu crossed home to give the Hawks a 4-2 edge.  

A Rams run followed suit in the bottom of the fifth. Murphy's single down the right field line kept the inning alive. The junior swiped second and cruised in on a bobble by the Hawks' second baseman Liz Peters during Cockroft's at bat to pull the hosts back within one, 4-3.  

Constance Phelan compiled a three-up, three-down top of the sixth to keep the Rams within striking distance. Base hits by Cloak, Scripter and Leina Belog chucked the bags for Luciano. Luciano was unable to bring in the tying run as the junior grounded out to second and the blue-and-gold stayed in the 4-3 hole.  

Phelan handled the Hawks in the seventh to set-up walk-off potential for Suffolk. An error let Cockroft take first with one out. Cifaratta popped up to third for the second out and Zulla sauntered to the play. With a 2-2 count, the senior catcher sent a high fly ball to right, but it died in the air for the final out of the day. 

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Phelan went the full 7.0. She let up four runs on nine hits with a pair of punchouts. 
• Ellie Fleming allowed three runs, two earned, one seven hits and one walk in complete-game effort.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Murphy went 3-for-4 with one double, three runs scored and two stolen bases. 
• Cockroft registered one hit and one RBI. 
• Clock, Belog and Scripter each had one hit. 
• Cifaratta chipped in one RBI.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Murphy matched a career-high three hits. 
• Phelan tossed 10th complete game of the season.  

POST-GAME PIC
 

SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
Suffolk and Roger Williams are scheduled for another doubleheader tomorrow. The Rams will travel to the Hawks Sunday, April 25.