PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Suffolk softball captured its fifth straight victory of the season behind a 3-2 win over Johnson & Wales in the first game of a Conference of New England (CNE) twin bill Sunday at the Scots Miracle Gro Athletic Complex. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 3 | Johnson & Wales 2
RECORDS: Suffolk (11-7, 2-1 CNE) | Johnson & Wales (6-7, 1-2 CNE)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Three straight Johnson & Wales singles resulted in the first run of the day in the opening inning and Suffolk found itself down 1-0 early. 
• Rams' errors in the top of the second quickly helped the Wildcats grab a 2-0 lead.
• That gap did not last long as Lily Newhall sent a no doubter over the left field fence and brought in Julia Mills, who singled, in the process to level the playing field at 2-all.
• The blue-and-gold broke ahead in the home half of the third. Dana Still bunted for a base hit and an error two batters latter put Rams on first and second. Catherine Carignan laced a single through the left side to plate the go-ahead run in Still. 
• After Newhall shut down the Wildcats in the fourth, Cynthia Rucinski came in to command the circle and she did just that with three hitless innings to preserve the victory for the blue-and-gold.

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Newall picked up the win as she allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits with two strikeouts through 4.0 innings of work. 
• Rucinski registered the save with 3.0 scoreless, hitless innings to her credit that featured two punchouts. 
• Jill Reed took the loss as she let up three runs, all earned, on five hits with seven Ks through 7.0 innings. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Newhall contributed two hits, including one jack, two RBI and one run scored. 
• Mills added one hit and one run. 
• Carignan contributed one RBI and one hit. 
• Still supplied one hit and one run. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk and Johnson & Wales met for the first time since April 15, 2022. 
• The Rams defeated the Wildcats for the first time since March 29, 2018, a 6-1 decision. 
• Every game between Suffolk and JWU has come as either a conference contest or a postseason league win. 
• Newhall knocked her third homer of the season.
• Still successfully hit in back-to-back games.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk aims to sweep the Wildcats of Johnson & Wales in the nightcap of the double feature this afternoon.