Head Softball Coach Jeff Franquet Coaches a Rare Double

The 2011 Central Connecticut softball team claimed a spot in NCAA history with a 19-4 victory over Princeton on Wednesday afternoon. The Blue Devils scored 17 runs in the second inning of a doubleheader sweep on the road. That number tied for the second most ever in a single inning of a Division I softball game. Central joined UTEP, Southern Miss, Jacksonville and Arizona as the five schools to post a 17 run inning. College of Charleston holds the record with a 29 run inning against Savannah State in 2004.

Despite it only occurring on five occasions, Wednesday's game was not the first time that head coach Jeff Franquet was part of a 17 run inning. Now in his second year at Central, the veteran college coach was the skipper at Jacksonville when the Dolphins posted their 17 run inning in 2004. Jacksonville defeated Savannah State 33-0, on May 2, 2004, at the time Jacksonville became the third team in NCAA history to score 17 or more runs in an inning.

The Blue Devils and Dolphins took two different paths to scoring 17 runs. Central sent 20 batters to the plate in the inning with 17 of the first 18 reaching base safely. All 17 Blue Devils who reached base scored, thanks to senior Amanda Dilworth's grand slam as the 18th hitter of the inning.

The Dolphins scored 13 of their 17 runs with two outs in the inning. Also, Jacksonville didn't hit a homerun in the inning or the game, despite scoring 33 runs. Another highlight of that game for the Dolphins was pitcher Katie Buell who threw a five inning perfect game.
The Blue Devils historic victory in yesterday's second game earned Franquet the distinction of being the only coach in NCAA history to lead two squads that posted 17 or more runs in a single inning. In game one his team came from behind to defeat Princeton 5-4 in extra innings. That victory gave Franquet his 300th as a college head coach.

After some time to reflect Franquet noted the significance of the day's events, "That was a really special day for JU Softball, and I am just as excited to be able to see our 2011 Blue Devils tie that record because our team has worked so hard to improve our program, and get better every day out."

Central sent 20 batters to the plate in the second inning yesterday totaling 17 runs on 10 hits and 2 errors.

Below is a complete play-by-play from the historic inning:

Central Connecticut 2nd Inning - Game 2 of Doubleheader - Wed., Mar. 30, 2011
Kat KNOWLES doubled down the rf line.
Erica KOEHLER hit by pitch.
Macy STEFANSKI bunted for a single; KOEHLER advanced to second; KNOWLES advanced to third.
Liza Kuhn to p for Michelle Tolfa.
Sarah VLAHOS singled to left center, 2 RBI; STEFANSKI advanced to second; KOEHLER scored; KNOWLES scored.
Arielle BRUNO bunted for a single; VLAHOS advanced to second; STEFANSKI advanced to third.
Rebecca MUSSATTI walked, RBI; BRUNO advanced to second; VLAHOS advanced to third; STEFANSKI scored.
Tessa BROWN singled through the left side, RBI, advanced to second on a fielding error by lf, advanced to third; MUSSATTI scored; BRUNO scored; VLAHOS scored.
Kelsey BARLOW popped up to ss.
Amanda DILWORTH walked.
KNOWLES reached on a fielding error by ss, RBI; DILWORTH advanced to second; BROWN scored.
KOEHLER walked; KNOWLES advanced to second; DILWORTH advanced to third.
STEFANSKI singled to leftfield, RBI; KOEHLER advanced to second; KNOWLES advanced to third; DILWORTH scored.
VLAHOS walked, RBI; STEFANSKI advanced to second; KOEHLER advanced to third; KNOWLES scored.
BRUNO singled to left field, 2 RBI; VLAHOS advanced to second; STEFANSKI scored; KOEHLER scored. MUSSATTI singled up the middle; BRUNO advanced to second; VLAHOS advanced to third.
BROWN singled to left field, 2 RBI; MUSSATTI advanced to second; BRUNO scored; VLAHOS scored.
BARLOW reached on a fielder's choice; BROWN advanced to second; MUSSATTI advanced to third.
DILWORTH homered to left field, 4 RBI; BARLOW scored; BROWN scored; MUSSATTI scored.
KNOWLES grounded out to ss.
KOEHLER popped up to ss.
17 runs, 10 hits, 2 errors, 4 BB, 1 HBP, 0 LOB.