The Albertus Magnus softball team split its Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader on Sunday afternoon with Suffolk University. The Rams won game one by a score of 6-4 before the Falcons took game two with a 3-0 shutout.
With the split, the Falcons even their record out to 8-8 on the year, while they improve to 4-2 in league play. Suffolk moves to 7-5 overall and 3-1 in GNAC action. The Albertus 3-0 win over Suffolk is the first victory for the Falcons over the Rams since the 2003 season.
Brittney Urciuoli (Newington, Conn.) and Gillian Fortier (Naugatuck, Conn.) both went 2-for-4 for the Falcons in game one, while Daysia Wehder (Queens, N.Y.) walked three times.
The first contest of the afternoon saw Suffolk edge the Falcons 6-4. Suffolk posted two runs in the top of the first inning thanks to a single up the middle by Sarah Chasse that plated two Rams.
After Suffolk took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third, Albertus scored its first run of the day in the bottom half of the frame as freshman Melissa Castillo (Taftville, Conn.) recorded a sacrifice fly to center that scored Rachel Cataudella (Shelton, Conn.) from third.
Suffolk scored two more runs in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead. Albertus answered once again in the bottom half of the frame as Urciuoli tallied an RBI single to left which scored Megan Kelly (Bronx, N.Y.). Urciuoli later scored on an error by the Rams' infield.
The Falcons cut the Rams' lead to one at 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth when Alyssa Puccilli (Milford, Conn.) blasted a home run past the centerfielder as she cruised around the bases.
Suffolk would secure the GNAC victory with an insurance run in the seventh inning with a sacrifice fly out to center.
Megan Ferraro (Branford, Conn.), now 2-2, picked up the loss for the Falcons as she allowed three earned runs on 10 hits and two walks. She struck out five batters.
Chasse earned the win to improve to 4-2 on the year. She allowed four runs on five hits and four walks. She struck out three batters in five innings of work. Kathleen Slavin picked up the save as she allowed two hits and struck out two in two innings of work.
In game two of the afternoon, Samantha Maselli (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) earned the victory to improve to 5-3 on the year. She went the distance, throwing the complete-game shutout, as she allowed two hits but struck out two batters.
Suffolk's Ali Yamakaitis took the loss to fall to 1-2 on the year. She allowed two earned runs on four hits in six innings. She also walked four batters and struck out six.
Cataudella finished the game 1-for-3 but plated two Falcons in the sixth inning when she singled up the middle.
The Falcons' first run of the game, the eventual game winner, was scored in the third inning when a walk and stolen base caused for some confusion for the Suffolk defense, which led to an error.
Albertus will host the University of Saint Joseph on Wednesday afternoon on Celentano Field. The home doubleheader for the Falcons is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM.
