SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Suffolk softball fell behind early and never caught up as Western New England took down the Rams, 7-3, in game one of a Conference of New England (CNE) double feature Saturday morning at Golden Bears Softball Park.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 3 | Western New England 7
RECORDS: Suffolk (16-19, 10-7 CNE) | Western New England (21-15-1, 10-6-1 CNE)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
A lead-off homer by Marley Rodriguez got the Golden Bears' bats going early as the host built a 4-0 lead in the first that stretched to six after two innings. 

The gap grew to seven in the home half of the third.  

Suffolk managed to make its way onto the board in the top of the fourth. Jolie Quintana opened the inning with a single down the left field line before pinch hitter reached on an error by WNE's second baseman Kim Baumann. One out and a double steal later, Lily Newhall sliced a single to left to bring the first Rams run in. Avery Carvalhocollected a RBI of her own with a base hit to left to bring the margin down to five, 7-2.  

Zeroes were put up on the board over the next 2.5 innings to keep it a five-run distance as the game went to the top of the seventh. 

Diana Rucinski slugged a double to right center to get the innings underway. WNE made a change in the circle as Riley Kane came in to throw. The reliever got two outs quickly, but Quintana kept the game going as she roped a single up the middle that scored Rucinski. The Rams rally came up short as Kane got the next out on a 53 ground to out seal Suffolk's setback fate. 

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Newhall took the loss as she gave up five runs, three earned, on six hits in 1.2 innings. 
• Ashlyn Conley allowed one run on one hit and two walks with two punchouts in 4.1 frames. 
• Ava Blanchard earned the win. She let up three runs, two earned, on eight hits and one walk with two Ks over 6.0 innings. 
• Kane shoved 1.0 inning of scoreless relief with one hit given up.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Quintana registered two hits, one RBI, one run and one stolen base. 
• Diana Rucinski recorded one hit, a double, and one run scored. 
• Newhall notched one hit and one RBI. 
• Catherine Carignan, Ella Turnbull, Mills, and Brandow added one hit.   
• Giavanna Bellino chipped in one stolen base and one run.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk closes the double feature and regular season with game two against Western New England this afternoon.