BOSTON – Suffolk softball bounced back at Wentworth in shutout fashion as the Rams kept the Leopards off the scoreboard in the nightcap behind the pitching of Cynthia Rucinski en route to a 5-0, Sunday afternoon in Conference of New England action at Carr Diamond.   

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 5 | Wentworth 0
RECORDS: Suffolk (15-16, 9-6 CNE) | Wentworth (17-19, 6-8 CNE) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Back-to-back one-run doubles in the top of the third gave Suffolk a 2-0 edge. Catherine Carignan slugged a two-bagger to left that brought in Avery Carvaho, who reached on an error by WIT's shortstop. Carignan then traded places with Lily Gustafson, who roped a double of her own to left to give the Rams a multi-run advantage.  

Suffolk lengthened its lead in the top of the sixth thanks to a one-run sac fly off pinch hitter Delaney Doidge's bat. She brought in Julia Mills, who singled, and worked her way around on behind a Giavanna Bellino base hit and fielder's choice.  

The distance grew again in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Abby Barnaby took Ella Turnbull's spot on the bag after the blue-and-gold's designated player placed a single through the left side. Mills brought her around with a double to left before she scored herself thanks to Lily Newhall's double to the opposite side of the field. That rally sent Suffolk in front, 5-0. 

Wentworth attempted to make one last move to get on the board as Katie Kranz and Brianna Miller muscled back-to-back two-out singles. That's when Cynthia Rucinski came in in the clutch as she fanned Katelin Howe swinging to preserve the shutout win. 

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Cynthia Rucinski recorded the shutout win behind a seven-hit, no-walk, four-strikeout, complete-game win. 
• Julia Malowitz took the loss as she gave up five runs, four earned, on 12 hits and one walk with three strikeouts over 6.2 innings. 
• Hayley Hines tossed 0.1 inning of scoreless, hitless relief.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Gustafson went 3-for-3 with one double, one RBI and one walk. 
• Mills compiled a 3-for-4 effort with one double, one RBI and one run. 
• Carignan contributed two hits including one double with one RBI and one run. 
• Carvalho chipped in one hit, one run and two stolen bases. 
• Bellino logged one hit and one run. 
• Barnaby scored one run. 
• Turnbull tallied one hit. 
• Doidge brought in one run.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk moved to 18-9 all-time against Wentworth. 
• The Rams and Leopards split the regular-season doubleheader for the second straight season. 
• The Rams are now 5-4 versus the Leopards when playing on the road. 
• Suffolk is 2-2 versus Wentworth under Megan Cook's guidance. 
• Suffolk had its third shutout of the season. 
• Cynthia Rucinski logged her second complete-game shutout of her collegiate career, first since a 1-0 win at Bridgewater State, April 17, 2024.
• Gustafson matched a career-high three hits.   

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Rams take a break from CNE contests Tuesday, April 29 when they visit Worcester State for a twinbill.