BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott softball team earned a split against Suffolk (6-4, 6-7) in a conference doubleheader matchup that took 16 days to complete. On April 15, the Gulls defeated the Rams, 6-4, before game two was halted in the middle of the fourth inning due to rain. Both teams eventually resumed play on May 1, and Suffolk came away with the victory, 7-6, in eight innings. 

GAME ONE: Endicott 6, Suffolk 4

WP (4-2): Analise Grady (Reading, Mass.) – 7 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
LP (4-7): Cynthia Rucinski (Milltown, N.J.) – 7 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 6 BB, 3 K

The Gulls trailed by scores of 2-0 (end 1), 3-0 (end 2), and 4-3 (end 5) before completing the comeback.

In the third inning, Abby McClaflin (Easthampton, Mass.) broke up the shutout with a sacrifice fly to center, while Chloe Shapleigh (Lynnfield, Mass.) evened the score at 3-3 with a two-run single.

Endicott responded again in the seventh, taking advantage of a miscue to score three runs on a Paige Berdos (Plainville, Mass.) hit-by-pitch, a wild pitch, and a Caitlyn Romero (Southport, Conn.) bases loaded walk.

Suffolk did bring the game-winning run to the plate in the bottom half, but Grady induced a groundout to third base to lock up the victory.

GAME TWO: Suffolk 7, Endicott 6 (8 inn.)

WP (8-9): Cynthia Rucinski (Milltown, N.J.) – 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
LP (6-4): Analise Grady (Reading, Mass.) – 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

The Rams scored three runs in the third on a pair of singles before play was halted in the middle of the fourth due to rain.

Once game two was resumed, Suffolk tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth via an RBI single to left field.

Endicott answered in the next half inning on a Mia Mitchell (Medford, Mass.) two-run double and a Chloe Shapleigh (Lynnfield, Mass.) sac fly to cut into the deficit at 4-3.

One inning later, McClaflin put another crooked number on the scoreboard with a three-run missile over the left field fence for a 6-4 advantage. 

Suffolk responded right back in the bottom half with a game-tying double before walking it off in the eighth on a long single down the left field line following a sacrifice bunt that advanced the ghost runner to third base.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORES

• Endicott is 10-4 all-time against Suffolk.
• Game two of the doubleheader lasted 2:09 despite the 16-day completion.
• McClaflin leads the team with five home runs.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (19-13, 12-4 CNE) visits Curry on Saturday at 11 AM. Suffolk (16-18, 10-6 CNE) travels to Western New England this Saturday at 12 PM. 

For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

(Photo Credit - Jonah Bean '28)