Softball Splits with Suffolk in Crosstown Showdown

BOSTON, Mass. – Emmanuel College settled for a doubleheader split against Suffolk University in non-conference softball action Thursday evening at Roberto Clemente Field. The Saints picked up a 2-1 win in the opener before falling to the Rams in game two, 8-3, despite holding a lead entering the seventh inning.

THE BASICS 

Score: 
Emmanuel College, 2; Suffolk University, 1
Emmanuel College, 3, Suffolk University, 8
Records: 
Emmanuel College Saints (1-3, 0-0 GNAC)
Suffolk University Rams (2-6, 0-0 CCIW)
Location: Boston, Mass. – Roberto Clemente Field
Date: Thursday, March 26, 2021

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 1)

• The Saints opened the game with an early run in the first inning off a Suffolk error, but it would take some time before either team was able to put another run on the board. 
• Pitchers dominated the action with EC senior Megan Long (Greenfield, R.I.) accumulating 11 strikeouts, nine of which went down swinging.
• Suffolk struggled all game offensively with one of the only bright spots coming in the fourth inning when Savannah Scripter (Lancaster, Calif.) belted solo home run to left-center field to tie the score at 1-1.
• The Saints responded in the bottom of the fifth with a sacrifice fly to left field by Renae Lacroix (Cumberland, R.I.) which scored Julyanne Pacheco (Somerset, Mass.) to give the hosts the lead for good at 2-1.
• Long made the lead stand up going the distance and securing the first win of the 2021 campaign for Emmanuel. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Long (Greenfield, R.I.) threw a complete game to earn her first win of the season striking out a career-high 11 and allowing only two hits. 
• Of the Rams two hits, Scripter's solo blast was her second home run of the season.
• Constance Phelan (Longwood, Fla.) threw well in defeat, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out a pair over six innings of work for Suffolk.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 2)

• EC capitalized off some early Suffolk miscues in the field to jump out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning.
• The Rams committed back to back errors after a bunt by sophomore Tianna Dawe (Lynn, Mass.) caused a wild throw to first, which advanced the batter to second and allowed junior Avery Webb (Hollis, N.H.) to open the scoring at 1-0.
• The Saints weren't done as they loaded up the bases setting the stage for sophomore Jadynne Hill (Haverhill, Mass.) to get an RBI after being hit by a pitch to add to their lead at 2-0.
• Emmanuel cashed in one last time in the inning and game with a sacrifice fly out to right by Lacroix to build the early cushion to 3-0.
• Both offensive units remained dormant until the top of the sixth when the Rams were able to add two runs to cut the deficit to 3-2. A single by Scripter and an error in right field allowed runners on first and second to advance and score making it a one-run game.
• The Rams rallied in the seventh inning and scored five to flip the script getting base hits by sophomore Ally Cifaratta (Cicero, N.Y.) and senior Ashley Zulla (Columbus, N.J.) to take a lead 5-3.
• EC turned to junior relief pitcher Grace Orcutt (Lexington, Mass.), but more Saints errors allowed the Rams to build the 8-3 lead before finally retiring the side. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Suffolk junior pitcher Kennedy Reyes dazzled in the circle, throwing a complete game with nine strikeouts to earn her first win of the season. 
• Despite the eight runs allowed, the Saints only gave up one earned run, committing six errors in the contest. 
• EC first year shortstop Olivia Conti (Cranston, R.I.) went 2-for-3 and is batting .364 in the early goings of the 2021 campaign.

UP NEXT

• Emmanuel is idle tomorrow and returns to action on Saturday, March 27 when they travel to Fitchburg State University for a 2:00 and 4:00 PM non-conference twinbill.
• Suffolk is back the same day, travelling to Gordon College for games at 12:00 and 2:00 PM.

*Written by EC Athletic Communications Correspondent Thomas Sullivan '24