Softball Holds Off UNE in Extras in Game 1, 7-6

BIDDEFORD, Maine – The University of New England battled back in the seventh inning to tie the game and force extra innings, but Suffolk softball took care of business in the eighth to defeat the Nor'Easters, 7-6, in Commonwealth Coast Conference action Monday afternoon at the Nor'Easter Diamond.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 7 | University of New England 6
RECORDS: Suffolk (14-15, 5-4 CCC) | University of New England (7-18, 3-4 CCC)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Nor'Easters jumped out to a 1-0 edge in the first frame. The host sandwiched hits around two outs to put the first run on the board. Fiona Casey singled to center, before coasting in thanks to Delaney Whitten's double to right center.  

Two innings later, Suffolk leveled the playing field. An error when Catherine Carignan put the ball in play was followed by a base hit from Maddie Southers to put a pair of Rams in the pond. Julia Mills laid down the bunt to move both runs 90 feet and a fielder's choice for the second out of the stanza let Carignan cross home and make it 1-1. 

The Rams took the lead in the fourth. Bella Rocha-Medeiros brought the go-ahead run in with a double to left field. She plated Jolie Quintana, who reached on a fielder's choice and took second on a throwing error by UNE's second baseman Emma Michaud. the scoring did not stop there as Carignan lobbed a two-bagger of her own to center field to pad the lead to a pair, 3-1. 

Suffolk stretched its advantage even further in the fifth. Ella Turnbull and Lily Gustafson barreled back-to-back base hits to put Rams in the corners. A wild pitch allowed Ashley Hubner, who pinch ran for Turnbull, score and Gustafson move up to second. Quintana walked and swiped second in time for Rocha-Medeiros to clear the bases with a single to right center that made it a 6-1 Suffolk game.  

UNE got two runs back in the home half of the inning to slice the distance in half, 6-3. 

The Nor'Easters continued a comeback in the seventh. An overthrow by the Rams' second baseman allowed the second runner of the frame reach safely to put a pair of base runners on for Whitten. Whitten powered a bases clearing triple to right center to cut the deficit down to one. After Elise Connor walked, Abby Walsh's load out to right allowed Whitten to come in and even things up at 6-6.  

Suffolk gained the upper hand once again in the top of the eighth. Carignan put the bunt down to push Rocha-Medeiros, who was placed on second, to third and Southers' single up the middle plated the go-ahead run.  

UNE once again threatened in the bottom of the eighth. As a one-out walk by Michaud followed by a productive ground out from Casey put Nor'Easeters on second and third with two outs. Cynthia Rucinski came up big for the Rams as she fanned Grace Tutt swinging to lock up the victory for Suffolk. 

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Cynthia Rucinski took the win in a relief effort. She allowed three runs on two hits and three walks with three punchouts including one to close the game in 3.2 innings of action. 
• Lily Newhall started and let up three runs on seven hits and three walks with a pair of strikeouts. 
• Liv Arvidson took the loss for the Nor'Easters after allowing one run, unearned, on two hits with one strikeout in 3.0 frames of action. 
• Kara MacDonald started and let up three runs, one earned, on six hits and one walk with two Ks in 3.1 innings. 
• Cat Higgins served 1.2 innings and put together a three-run, three-hit, one-walk, one-strikeout effort.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Rocha-Medeiros produced three RBI on two hits, including one double and scored two runs. 
• Carignan registered a 2-for-4 effort with both of her hits good for doubles. She brought in one run and scored one herself. The left fielder also added one sac. 
• Southers supplied two hits, one RBI and one walk. 
• Becky Zellin brought in one run and stole one base. 
• Quintana added two runs, one stolen base and one walk. 
• Gustafson chipped in one hit and one run. 
• Turnbull tallied two hits.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk played back-to-back extra-inning games for the second time this season and second time in program history. 
• The Rams and Nor'Easters went into extra innings for the second time in the all-time series, first since April 10, 2022. 
• Suffolk remains unbeaten in extra innings against UNE, 2-0. 
• Suffolk is now 3-1 in extra-inning games in the Megan Cook era. 
• Suffolk moved to 5-6 all-time against the University of New England. 
• The win was the Rams first over UNE since a. 2-1 decision April 10, 2022. 
• Suffolk is now 3-1 on the road against the Nor'Easters. 
• In CCC contests, the blue-and-gold sists 3-5 versus the Nor'Easters. 
• Rocha-Medeiros had her first multi-hit game. The sophomore logged the first RBI of her collegiate career and finished with three and scored a career-best two times. 
• McHale produced the first extra-base hit of her collegiate career. 
• Carignan matched a career-high two doubles.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk wraps up its doubleheader at UNE under the lights tonight.