Softball Claims Game Two Over Curry, 9-6

BABSON PARK, Mass. – Suffolk softball bounced back in the Conference of New England (CNE) nightcap over Curry as it defeated the Colonels, 9-6, Wednesday afternoon at Alumni Field on the campus of Babson College.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 9 | Curry 6
RECORDS: Suffolk (12-12, 5-2 CNE) | Curry (12-14, 5-7 CNE)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
The scoring started in the third for both sides. Curry charged on the board behind a one-run single by Natalia O'Kl. She brought in Kailey Colli, who led off with a bunt for a single and moved into scoring position thanks to Tara Goldman's sac.  

The Rams response came behind a two-out, two-run double by Lily Newhall. Suffolk's first baseman plated Delaney Doidge and Julia Mills, who ignited the rally going with back-to-back base hits. 

In the top of the fourth, Adrianna Capozzi got caught in a run down between third and home. The Colonels capitalized on a dropped ball by Lily Gustafson to lock the game at 2-all. 

Errors continued to factor into the scoring as Suffolk took advantage of two Curry fielding mishaps in the home half of the inning to regain the lead, 3-2. Avery Carvalho reached on a throwing error by Curry's third baseman, moved to second on a bobble by the Colonels short stop and took third when Catherine Carignan singled up the middle. A fielder's choice when Gustafson put the ball in play let Carvalho come in and push the blue-and-gold back in front.   

Small ball and a Rams' error allowed Curry to sneak ahead, 5-3, in the top of the fifth. 

Suffolk righted that wrong and then some in the bottom of the inning. Mills singled and Newhall walked to put a pair of runners on before Ava Brandow knocked a one-run single to right to start the Rams' rally. Newhall ran in on a bunt put down by Carvalho, before Diana Rucinski's base hit to right plated Brandow to push the blue-and-gold back in front, 6-5. An error by the Colonels' when Carignan put the ball in play allowed to more runners to cross home for the Rams and Carignan scored behind Doidge's double to center to pad the distance to four, 9-5. 

Curry managed to chip the deficit down to three in the top of the sixth when Jillian Roger singled through the right side to plate O'Kleasky, who reached on a fielder's choice. The Colonels loaded the bases after that, which caused Megan Cook to go to her pull ben and bring Newhall in. The reliever got out of the jam in the sixth and managed to keep Curry quiet in the seventh for the 9-6 Suffolk final.  

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Cynthia Rucinski earned the win. She compiled a six-run, four-earned, nine-hit, three-walk, five-strikeout effort over 5.2 innings.
• Newhall picked up the save behind 1.1 innings of scoreless relief with two hits let up.
• Jenelle Munoz took the loss as she allowed six runs, three earned, on five hits and two walks with two punchouts in 3.0 innings. 
• Caitlin Wood yielded three runs, two earned, on seven hits and one walk with one K in the first 3.0 frames.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Newhall went 3-for-3 with one double, two RBI, one run and one walk. 
• Mills registered two hits, two runs and one stolen base.
• Doidge compiled a 2-for-3 effort with one double, one RBI, one run and one walk. 
• Brandow added a 2-for-3 effort with one RBI, one run and one walk. 
• Carvalho scored two runs and brought in one run. 
• Diana Rucinski recorded one hit, one RBI and one run. 
• Carignan chipped in one hit and one run. 
• Gustafson pitched in one RBI and one hit.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk moved to 28-12 all-time against Curry. 
• The Rams moved to 3-1 versus the Colonels under Cook's guidance.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk is back in action this Friday, April 19 with a twinbill against Roger Williams. The Rams will host the Hawks at Carr Diamond on the campus of Wentworth with first pitch of game one set for 3:00 p.m.