The CCRI Lady Knights softball team traveled to Suffolk Community College in Selden, N.Y. to play the Sharks in a doubleheader. The Lady Knights lost to the Sharks 9-1 twice to start the season 0-2.  

Game 1: CCRI- 1

Suffolk- 9

Starting in the circle for the Lady Knights was sophomore co-captain Jess Spargo (Westerly, RI). Spargo did not fare well in this game, facing just six batters while allowing five runs on three hits with two walks. She was relieved by freshman Courtney Sheridan (Warwick, R.I.), who finished the game throwing four innings while allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts.         

Offensively for the Lady Knights, they got two runners on in the first inning with a walk by Kristina Rodriguez (North Kingstown, R.I.), while Mikayla Fernandez (Burrillville, R.I.) reached via error, but they could not push a run across home plate. 

In the second inning, CCRI once again had two baserunners with Sheridan reaching on a single and co-captain Erica Jewett (Coventry, R.I.) being hit by a pitch, but once again CCRI could not score. Finally, in the third inning, the offense broke through with a double from Rodriguez. Co-captain Jenna Urso (West Warwick, R.I.) then hit an RBI single to score Rodriguez and get the Lady Knights on the scoreboard, making the score 7-1 in favor of Suffolk.  

The Lady Knights only managed one more hit from sophomore Meghan Rousseau (Richmond, R.I.), while Suffolk scored once in the fourth and once in the fifth to end the game, 9-1, by the mercy rule.    

The CCRI offense was led by Rodriguez, who was 1-for-1 with a double, a walk and a run scored, followed by Urso, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI single. Rounding out the offense was Sheridan, who was 1-2 and Rousseau went 1-for-3 with a single.

Game 2 CCRI- 1

Suffolk- 9

In the circle for the Lady Knights was Sheridan, who pitched well in her second collegiate contest against a very potent lineup. Sheridan threw six and 2/3 innings, allowing nine runs, eight earned, on 12 hits with three walks, but struck out a career-high eight batters.

Offensively for the Lady Knights, their bats went silent in the second game with only three hits. Leading the way was freshman Madison Cooper (Pawtucket, R.I.), who had two hits, including an RBI single, while Fernandez added a hit and a walk and Kristina Rodriguez scored the lone Lady Knights’ run.   

Head Coach Liz Afonso commented after the doubleheader: “We had a tough first outing, but are optimistic that the girls will rise to the occasion as we get more practice and games outdoors. We look forward to heading to spring training this coming Friday in Florida to continue to gel as a team on the field.”

The Lady Knights’ next games will be on their Florida road trip, where they will compete in THE Spring Games at the Legends Way ball fields at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla. They leave Friday evening, with their games beginning on Monday, March 21. To follow the Lady Knights in THE Spring Games follow this link: https://pfxathletics.com/the-spring-games/