Golden Bears Split Non-Conference Doubleheader with Suffolk

Kistner hits three-run homer to lead WNE to game one victory

EAST BOSTON, Mass. (March 30, 2019) – The Western New England University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Suffolk University on Saturday afternoon at East Boston Memorial Park.

The Golden Bears took the opener 5-2, before the Rams bounced back with a 2-0 win in game two.

Western New England 5, Suffolk 2

Top Performers
Western New England was led offensively by junior Aimee Kistner (Taunton, Mass.), who went 2-for-4 at the plate with a three-run home run.

Senior Giovanna Russo (East Haven, Conn.) and sophomore Emily Cooney (Berlin, Conn.) recorded two hits each, while junior Paige Uliase (Meriden, Conn.) and freshman Dina DiBlasio (Norwalk, Conn.) drove in one run apiece.

Uliase also got the start in the circle and surrendered just one earned run during a complete game performance.

Suffolk freshman Caitlin Murphy (Abington, Mass.) was the lone Ram to post a multi-hit effort, as she went 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored.

Game Review
Western New England provided Uliase with some early run support, as the Golden Bears established a 4-0 first inning lead.

Cooney led off the contest with a walk, and after sophomore Allie Buzzeo (Stamford, Conn.) reached on an error, Kistner hit a three-run homer over the left field fence. Later in the inning, Uliase came through with a two-out, RBI single up the middle.

Suffolk got one run back in the bottom of the first, as Murphy led off with a walk and eventually came in to score on a wild pitch.

In the top of the fourth, Russo reached on a leadoff walk, advanced to second on an infield single by Cooney, and crossed the plate three batters later when DiBlasio delivered an RBI single that made it 5-1.

The Rams were able to push across one more run in the fifth, but Uliase worked around a one-out single in the sixth before retiring the side in order in the seventh.

Suffolk 2, Western New England 0

Top Performers
The Golden Bears were limited to three hits in game two, which came off the bats of Cooney, Russo and freshman Jamie Cookingham (Warner, N.H.).

Kistner was solid in the circle, striking out seven batters and allowing just two runs over six innings, but Suffolk freshman pitcher Kennedy Reyes (Taunton, Mass.) was dominant with nine strikeouts over a complete game shutout effort.

Offensively, Suffolk received one RBI each from freshman Ashley Zulla (Columbus, N.J.) and freshman Brooke Cloak (Mullica Hill, N.J.).

Game Review
Suffolk jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, as Murphy led off with a single and came in to score two batters later on a sacrifice fly by Cloak.

In the bottom of the third, the Rams doubled their advantage on an RBI double to right center field by Zulla.

Reyes cruised the rest of the way, never allowing more than one baserunner in an inning as Suffolk salvaged the doubleheader split.

Up Next
Western New England (8-6) resumes Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play on Monday at Wentworth, while Suffolk (7-9) hosts Lesley on Tuesday.