BOSTON, Mass. – Looking to pick up some momentum heading into their weekend matchup against Little East Conference leading Eastern Connecticut State University, UMass Boston Softball got back in the win column behind three strong performances in the circle by their pitching staff and a big two-run single by sophomore infielder Kaylee Bruce, to defeat Suffolk University, 4-3, in Thursday's road matchup.
 
THE BASICS
UMass Boston 4, Suffolk University 3
 
UMass Boston (18-11)
Suffolk University (7-17)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Control would be hard to come by for both starting pitchers in junior pitcher Bri Melchionda and sophomore pitcher Ella Turnbull. The two starters combined for nine total walks through the first two innings, but continuously managed to work themselves out of trouble to keep their respective teams in the game.

Following a first-inning wild pitch, Turnbull would help her cause by scoring a run on a sacrifice fly to give her a 1-0 lead going back out into the circle. However, the Beacons would tie it up after loading the bases on two walks and a single by junior designated player Lauryn Bethea when freshman outfielder Sofie Richland hit into a fielder's choice in which the Rams elected to take the out at second.

With two on and nobody out in the second for Suffolk, a fielding error by freshman infielder Lauren Miner on an attempted sacrifice bunt loaded up the bases for the Rams with nobody out. Melchionda would come back to strike out the next two hitters before walking junior catcher Ira Boci as Suffolk University reclaimed the lead, 2-1.

Yet again, the response would be immediate from the Beacons as sophomore utility player Amauri English notched her third home run of the season, a solo shot, off of Turnbull in the third inning that pulled UMass Boston even at two all. Taking their first lead of the contest in the fourth, Bruce's infield single scored two runs after sophomore relief pitcher Ava Brandow threw a wild pitch earlier in the at-bat.

Holding a 4-2 lead, freshman pitcher Adrianna Fusco nailed down the middle three frames for the Beacons, only allowed one run after a one-out triple by graduate outfielder Caitlin Murphy who scored on a passed ball in the fourth. Fusco would escape that very same inning after the Rams would load the bases with two outs before the freshman came back to strike out sophomore infielder Lily Gustafson and end the inning.

Following Fusco's third inning of work, junior pitcher Emily Doble would enter the game to earn her first save of the season, working a scoreless sixth and seventh against Suffolk as UMass Boston earned a 4-3 victory in the single game.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Adrianna Fusco notched her second win of the season after going three innings, allowing one on three hits while striking out four and walking two
• Emily Doble worked two scoreless relief innings, allowing no runs on one hit while striking out two and walking one
• Lauryn Bethea led UMass Boston in the hit column, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored
• Kaylee Bruce recorded her second multi-hit game in her last three starts, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs

 
WHO'S NEXT
UMass Boston will prepare for a pivotal Little East Conference against Eastern Connecticut State University, who is currently undefeated in LEC play, this Saturday on the road with game one starting at 1:00 PM. The Beacons will look to break a 10-game losing streak against the Warriors with that last win coming in the LEC Tournament back in 2017, a tournament in which UMass Boston would go on to win.