Softball Secures Slipt, Hangs on for 4-3 Nightcap Win at Endicott

BEVERLY, Mass. – Suffolk softball logged a Conference of New England (CNE) doubleheader split at Endicott as the Rams' four-run first inning lead paid off in the long run for a 4-e win over the Gulls Sunday afternoon at North Field.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 4 | Endicott 3
RECORDS: Suffolk (18-17, 9-9 CNE) | Endicott (20-11, 14-4 CNE)  

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Lily Newhall worked a bases loaded walk in the top of the first to start the scoring. Two batters later, Claire Basaldua cleared the bags with a double down the right field line to pad Suffolk's early edge to 4-0. 
• Endicott used three hits, one double and a pair of singles, to slice the distance in half in the home half of the third, 4-2. 
• The Gulls made up more ground in the bottom of the fifth. With a runner on a first, Abby McClafin hit into what should have been a routine ground out to third, however, Roma Braid over threw first base, which allowed the runner to score to make it a one-run game, 4-3.
• Suffolk, who stranded at least one runner in every inning except the fifth, hung onto the one-run advantage as the game headed to the bottom of the seventh. Braid made up for her hiccup in the fifth as she was responsible for the first two outs of the frame with a highlight-reel diving catch. Mia Mitchell sliced a single through the right side to give the Gulls' life, but Ava Lanza managed to glove a pop up at second to lock up the win. 

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Newhall earned the win with a three-run, two-earned, seven-hit, one-walk, complete-game performance. 
• Rania Barton took the loss as she gave up four runs on three hits and one walk with one K in 1.0 inning. 
• Analise Grady tossed 6.0 innings of scoreless relief with five hits and one walk allowed with four punchouts. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Basaldua went 2-for-2 with one double and three RBI. 
• Braid went 2-for-3 with one stolen base. 
• Julia Mills notched a 2-for-4 effort with one run scored. 
• Lanza recorded one hit and one run. 
• Newhall notched one run and one RBI. 
• Jolie Quintana chipped in one run, while Kendal Heyman had one hit. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk split the doubleheader with Endicott for the third straight season.
• The Rams are now 9-18 all-time against the Gulls. 
• Eighth of the Rams' nine victories over Endicott have come in Beverly, Massachusetts. 
• Lanza lengthened her hit streak to six games. In that span she has eight hits. 
• Mills has back-to-back two-hit games. 
• Basaldua tied a career-high two hits. 
• Braid matched a personal-best two hits. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk wraps up the regular season Saturday, May 2 with a CNE doubleheader with Western New England.