Suffolk University Softball Routs Regis, 9-1, in Five Innings to Open Twinbill

Recap, photo courtesy of Suffolk University

EAST BOSTON – The Suffolk softball team scored early and often to run-rule Regis, 9-1, in five innings Wednesday afternoon at East Boston Memorial Park.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 9, Regis 1
RECORDS: Suffolk (13-6, 6-1 GNAC) | Regis (4-11, 0-7 GNAC)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Regis broke opened the scoring in the top of the first, but the visitors lead was shortlived as the Rams responded in the home half of the inning. Suffolk got its offense going all with two down as Devlin Frost knocked a double to the center field fence. Jaclyn Flint kept the offense alive as she drew a base-on-balls, before Delaney Sylvester put the ball through the left side to tie the ball game. Flint and Sylvester each rounded the bags courtesy of Ashley Zulla's deep double to left field that gave the host 3-1 advantage.  

Taylor Holmes sat down the Pride in order in the top of the second before putting up five more runs in the bottom of the stanza. Back-to-back doubles from Payton Sylvester and Sydney Littlefield started the scoring with Littlefield using Flint's single to right field to cross home. With runners in the corners, Zulla sent a shot over the right field fence to make it an 8-1 Suffolk score.  

Suffolk's final run of the afternoon came off Flint's bat as the junior middle infielder barreled a solo shot over the left field fence for the 9-1 final.  

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Holmes earned the decision as Suffolk's starter allowed just one run on three hits with one strikeout through the first 3.0 innings. 
• Constance Phelan worked two scoreless innings of relief. The freshman arm gave up just one hit and sat down one batter. 
• Madi McLellan suffered the setback as she let up nine runs off 12 hits and one walk with five Ks to her credit.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Four different Rams had two-hit days paced by Zulla, who had a day. Zulla produced five RBI behind a 2-for-2 effort with one double and one dinger. 
• Flint also went yard as her 2-for-2 performance was good for a pair of RBI to go along with three runs scored.
• Delaney Sylvester notched two hits, brought one run and scored twice. 
• Kelly Keane rounded out the batters with two hits. 
• Littlefield collected one RBI and scored one run, while Payton crossed home once. The senior and freshman each had one hit apiece.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk and Regis renewed a rivalry, meeting for the first time since 1999, first-time under Jaclyn Davis and first time as GNAC foes. 
• The Rams won their second straight match-up versus the Pride to move to 4-10 all-time against Regis.
• Suffolk moved to 1-0 versus Regis in the Jaclyn Davis era.
• The Rams' Class of 2018 – Madison Eucalitto,Frost, Holmes, Littlefield, Delaney Sylvester and Ali Yamakaitis – won their 100th game in their collegiate career. They become the third-ever four-year class in Suffolk softball history to accomplish the feat. Overall, the six seniors have gone 100-54 (.649) on the diamond as Rams.  
• Suffolk opened GNAC play 6-1 for the first time since going 12-1 to open league play in 2015.
• Zulla registered a career-high five RBI.   

Suffolk University Baseball Bests Nichols, 7-2

Recap, photo courtesy of Suffolk University

HARTFORD, Conn.  – The Suffolk baseball team snapped a five-game skid Thursday night as the Rams defeated Nichols, 7-2, at Trinity's DiBenedetto Stadium. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 7, Nichols 2
RECORDS: Suffolk (5-13) | Nichols (6-12) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Each side was retired in the first before Suffolk open the second in the second. Seth Coiley led off with a double to left center and Greg Speliotis moved his classmate to third with a sac bunt. Blasé Cormier's single up the middle was enough to bring in Coiley and give the Rams a 1-0 edge.  

The Bison equalized the score an inning later and the score remained 1-all heading into the top of the fifth.  

Brady Chant kept Suffolk's offense alive after back-to-back strikeouts. The senior centerfielder knocled a single left field and an error by Nichols' first baseman allowed Trevor Lee to reach first and Chant move up tot third. Will Hopkins plated the go-ahead run with a single to left field and two batters later Speliotis picked up two RBI on a single to right center to give the blue-and-gold a 4-1 advantage. 

Suffolk held the Bison in the home half of the fifth and again in the sixth before adding another run to its total in the seventh. Nichols' relief pitcher Stigerik McElhinney came in and walked the first three Rams' hitters to load the bases, which set up Tim Brigham's RBI. The pinch hitter wore a pitch to allow Coiley to struth in and push Suffolk's lead to 5-1.  

The team's traded runs in the eighth and Suffolk added its final run of the night in the ninth, courtesy of a sac fly by Ben Isaak.  

Parker Browne came in to take over for Suffolk starter Charles Batchelder. After a lead-off single, the freshman arm gained composre to secure the 7-2 win for the Rams.   

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Batchelder picked up the win behind a solid performance on the mound. In 8.0 innings, the junior allowed two runs on five hits and two walks withs even strikeouts. 
• Parker came out of the pen for the final frae. 
• Seven different Nichols hurlers took the hill. Vincent Amato suffered the setback after giving up four runs on eighth hits and one walk with three Ks. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Cormier had the most productive day at the dish with a 2-for-3 effort with one RBI and a pair of walks. 
• As the designated hitter, Spelitotis put together a 1-for-2 showing with two RBI and two base-on-balls. 
• Lee had a multi-hit outing with two hits to his credit to go along with two runs and one stolen base. 
• Chant, Coiley, Gilbride, Hopkins and Shamnoski each had one hit apiece. 
• Coiley contributed two runs, while Chant, Hopkins and Gilbride all scored on run each for the Rams. 
• Coiley was the lone batter to have an extra-base hit, recording a double. 
• Brigham, Hopkins and Isaak all had one RBI on their stat lines. 
• Gilbride swiped two bases.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk and Nichols renewed a rivalry, meeting for the first time since 2003. 
• The Rams won their fourth straight outing versus the Bison to grab an 18-17 edge in the all-time series. 
• Isaak tallied his first colleigate RBI with the first sac fly of his collegiate career.
• Gilbride stole a personal-best two bases.
• Cormier matched career-bests in hits (2) and RBI (1).
• Lee scored a season-high two runs, while matching a season-best two hits.

WHAT'S NEXT? Suffolk begins its GNAC title defense this weekend as it opens conference play on the road at Albertus Magnus and Lasell. The Rams will first visit the Falcons Saturday, April 7, before stopping by the Lasers Sunday, April 8.