Softball Holds off Franciscian, 6-4

MYRTLE BEACH – Suffolk softball held a six-run lead after 5.5 frames before Franciscian threated in the bottom of the sixth. Ella Turnbull anchored the Rams' defensive unit in the circle that held off a Barons comeback to take a 6-4 victory Thursday night at North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 6| Franciscian 4
RECORDS: Suffolk (4-3) | Framingham State (0-5) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk stood in front, 4-0 after the first frame. The bases were chuck full after Caitlin Murphy singled, Jolia Quintana doubled and Savannah Scripter drew a base on balls. A ball got away from Franciscian's catcher Chloe Cross to allow the first run of the outing come in. The next two were plated courtesy of Ally Cifaratta's single to center. Cifaratta raced into scoring position on a passed ball during Ava Brandow's at bat and the Rams rookie barreled a double to right center to bring Cifaratta around to make it a four-run game.  

Two innings later the Rams extended the advantage to six. Cifaratta and Brandow factored into the scoring again. The third baseman led off the inning with a single to center and small ball by Brandow pushed her to second. Delaney Doidge picked up an RBI on a double to right field and then capitalized on an error by the Barons third baseman McDaniels when Ashley King put the ball into play. McDaniels over threw first that not only allowed King to reach safely, but Doidge to cross home and turn the score into 6-0 Suffolk.  

Another two innings passed before the score changed again. This time it was Franciscian who got on the board. Four hits, one Rams' error and two pitching changes later the Barons made it a ball game as they cut the gap down to two, 6-4, as the game headed to the top of the seventh. 

No insurance came for the blue-and-gold to set up a thriller home half of the inning. With two outs and the bases full, Turnbull faced Rachel Cooper. Coopered worked a full count, squared up Turnbull's pitch and sent it screaming down the third base line. A quick grab and decision by Cifaratta to get the force out at third sealed Suffolk's winning fate. 

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Turnbull earned the decision. The starter, who left the game after four innings and came back to close the final 1.2, finished with a six-hit, four-walk, eight-strikeout effort eight with no walks allowed in her 5.2 frames of action.
• Kennedy Reyes threw 1.1 innings of relief in which she allowed four runs, one earned, on four hits.
• Lily Wahl took the loss after letting up six runs, five earned, on eight hits and three walks with four Ks to her credit.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Cifaratta contributed a 2-for-3 effort at the plate with two RBI, one run and one walk. 
• Quintana was the only other Ram with multiple hits with two to her credit, one of which was good for two bags, to go along with one run. 
• Brandow and Doidge each knocked a one-run double. The latter added one run and walk, respectively. 
• Murphy tallied one hit, one run and one stolen base. 
• Rebecca Zellin rounded out Suffolk's hitters with one of her own. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk battled Franciscian for the first time in program history. 
• Turnbull made her first collegiate start in the circle. 
• Turnbull recorded her first collegiate win with a career-high innings pitched (5.2), batters faced (28) and strikeouts (8). 
• Doidge appeared in the starting line-up for the first time in her career. 
• Doidge scored a run for the first time in her collegiate career. 
• Zellin made her first collegiate appearance behind the backstop. 
• Zellin produced her first collegiate hit.
• Quintana matched a personal-best two hits. She has scored one run in each of the last three games. 

POST-GAME PIC

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk wraps up its time at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic under the lights against SUNY Poly.