Brenneman Registers 300th Career Strikeout in First Game of Doubleheader Split at Holy Cross

Central Connecticut (8-33) senior Rachel Brenneman recorded her 300th career strikeout in game one of a doubleheader split at Holy Cross (13-34). Brenneman threw a complete game six-hitter to earn the 4-1 win in the opener. Already the program's all-time career strikeout leader, she fanned five in her fourth win of the season. The Blue Devils lost the second contest, 10-2, in six innings. Sophomore Katherine Knowles, who doubled, was one of three CCSU players with two hits in the first game. Junior Sara Budrick had an RBI single in the second contest.

Brenneman recorded her milestone strikeout in the bottom of the second inning of game one. She fanned sophomore Erin Fleming looking. The first run of the contest wasn't posted until the fifth. Holy Cross plated an unearned run to go up 1-0. The Blue Devils responded with a three-run outburst in the top of the sixth. Sophomore Kendall Sours started the rally with a one-out single. She moved to second on a passed ball and advanced to third on a single by junior Jaclyn Logan. Knowles drove Sours in with a double, and Logan scored on a wild pitch. Sophomore Erica Koehler brought Knowles home with a sacrifice fly to make it a 3-1 game. Junior Tiffany Erickson had an RBI sac fly to add insurance in the seventh inning.

In addition to Knowles, Sours and senior Jenna Earley each had two hits. Sophomore Sam Lenhardt led Holy Cross with a pair of hits. Junior Dettey Audette took the loss on the mound. She allowed eight hits and struck out three in a complete game effort.

Knowles, Budrick and freshman Joanna Barry each had singles in the second game. Holy Cross went in front 5-0 through three innings. The Blue Devils cut the margin to 5-1 on Budrick's RBI single in the fourth. After giving back the run in the bottom half of the fourth, Sours plated a run with an RBI ground out in the fifth. The Crusaders added three runs in the bottom of the fifth and ended the game with a run in the sixth.

Freshman Abby Harpp took the loss for CCSU. Sophomore Katie Alexander picked up the win for Holy Cross. Freshman Camille Trainor pitched two innings in relief. Lenhardt, Fleming and freshman Nicole Ortiz all went 3-for-4 in the win. Fleming had two doubles. Ortiz had a double and two RBI.

Central Connecticut will end its season against Hartford on Thursday, Apr. 30. The Blue Devils will serve as hosts at Hartford. Game one of the doubleheader is slated to start at 2:30 p.m.

NOTE: Brenneman now has 304 career strikeouts.