EAST BOSTON, Mass. - The Simmons College softball team was swept in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference doubleheader by host Suffolk University, dropping the first game, 9-3, before falling in the nightcap, 9-2, this evening at East Boston Memorial in East Boston, Mass. The Sharks fall to 9-14 overall and 4-6 in league play, while the Rams improve to 11-11 and 3-3.

Simmons led in both games, but was unable to keep the lead, including a 2-1 advantage in the second contest, before Suffolk scored eight runs in the sixth to put the game away.

First year Alex Soqui (Acushnet, Mass.) led the Sharks at the plate, going 3-6 with a run batted in for the day, while first year center fielder Molly Hennessey (Charlton, Mass.) hit safely in each game. First year Lauren Del Vacchio's (Murrieta, Calif.) team-best hitting streak came to an end at eight straight following the second game, but she did reach on a walk in the contest and has reached base in 13 straight outings.

Sophomore shorstop Jaclyn Flint (Medfield, Mass.) led the Rams offense, going 5-7 with four runs batted in, three runs scored, a double and a home run, while junior Devlin Frost (Tewksbury, Mass.) was 4-7 with four runs scored, a run batted in and a double. Junior Madison Eucalitto (Old Saybrook, Conn.) collected four hits in six at-bats and knocked in a run.

The Sharks took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first of the opening game, thanks to run-scoring singles from first year shortstop Ashley Lynch (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and first year Alex Soqui (Acushnet, Mass.). The Rams wasted no time to respond with Flint leading off the home half of the first with a solo home run to cut their deficit in half. Suffolk followed with two singles, before junior catcher Delaney Sylvester (Worcester, Mass.) knocked in a pair of runs with a one-out single to right field to give the Rams a 3-2 edge. Senior first baseman Lindsay Pagano (Wyckoff, N.J.) doubled home the fourth run to give the Rams a two-run lead following the first frame. 

Sophomore Michaela Reeves (Reading, Mass.) made it a one-run game in the fourth with a two-out solo homer for her first collegiate long ball, but it was the final run of the game for Simmons. Suffolk got some breathing room with four runs in the fifth to take an 8-3 lead. Flint keyed the inning with a two-run double and junior left fielder Morgan Parmeter (Maynard, Mass.) knocked in a run with a single as well. Eucalitto drove in the final run with an infield single for the Sharks. 

Junior Ali Yamakaitis (Avenel, N.J.) (5-6) earned the victory for the Rams by allowing three runs on six hits and a pair of walks and struck out three, while Soqui (1-1) was tagged with eight runs (seven earned) for the visitors and was chased from the game after hurling four and a third innings and allowing 13 hits to go with four strikeouts.

Simmons kept Suffolk off the board for the first two innings, before the Rams scored the first run of the contest. Flint beat out an infield single to score Frost with the game's first run. The Sharks scored twice in the fifth, including an RBI single from senior third baseman Brianna Rastello (Salem, N.H.) to give Simmons a 2-1 edge. 

Suffolk sent 14 batters to the plate in the sixth and saw eight of them score to give the Rams a commanding 9-2 lead heading into the top of the seventh. Frost and sophomore designated player Jill Pulek (Cheshire, Conn.) each doubled in a run for the home team, while first year right fielder Ashley Zulla (Columbus, N.J. and Pagano each knocked in a run in the inning as well.

Junior starting pitcher Taylor Holmes (Ashford, Conn.) (4-6) earned the victory for Suffolk, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks to go with eight strikeouts in seven complete innings, while sophomore hurler Tori Gomes (Taunton, Mass.) (2-7) suffered the loss for the Sharks, giving up six runs (four earned) on seven hits and six walks, while striking out two.

Simmons will be in action again on Saturday, April 15 when it hosts GNAC foe Johnson & Wales University for a 2:00 p.m. twinbill. The Rams play again on the same day when they head to Standish, Maine to take on Saint Joseph's College at 1:00 p.m.