Softball Runs Winning Streak to School Record 10 Games

The Central Connecticut softball team swept the University of Hartford on Thursday afternoon. The wins run the Blue Devils winning streak to a school record 10 games. The Blue Devils improve to 16-9-1 on the season with the wins. Central's pitchers dominated allowing Hartford only one run and six hits over 13 innings of play. Sophomore Jordan Tingley and senior Elizabeth Montemurro each earned complete game victories over the Hawks on the day.

Game One

The Blue Devils took game one of the doubleheader behind a six inning shutout from Tingley. Tingley allowed only one hit and one walk while striking out five over the six innings. Senior Katherine Knowles went three-for-three with a homerun in the victory.

The Blue Devils got on the board in the bottom of the third with a single run. With one out senior Amanda Dilworth doubled to right center. Sophomore Kelsey Barlow followed with her own double to the gap, scoring Dilworth from second. Senior Kat Knowles gave the Blue Devils a third straight double with a shot off of the rightfield fence, but Barlow was tagging up at second base and was only able to advance to third on the hit.

Sophomore Macy Stefanski reached on a fielder's choice, as the Hawks were unable to catch Knowles off of third base. However, Hartford retired the next two hitters preventing the Blue Devils from scoring again.

In the bottom of the fourth Central loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a hit batter. Dilworth delivered a sacrifice fly ball to deep center scoring a run and advancing Bruno to third. Junior Rebecca Mussatti stole second on the first pitch to Barlow, and on the next pitch Barlow singled to center scoring both runners.

The Blue Devils were not done as Knowles came to the plate and crushed a long homerun to center field scoring the Blue Devils fifth and sixth runs of the game.

Central ended the game in the bottom of the sixth with a pair of runs, forcing the eight run mercy rule. Freshman Arielle Bruno led off the inning with a hard line drive single down the left field line. Bruno then scored on a long double to left center by Mussatti. Dilworth singled into the shortstop hole, setting up first and second with no one out. Mussatti advance to third on a pitch in the dirt. Setting up Barlow to end the game with a sacrifice fly to the left field fence.

The Blue Devils took the game 8-0 earning the walk off mercy rule victory in the bottom of the sixth inning. Barlow led the Central offense with two hits and four RBIs in the game.

Game Two

Montemurro took the ball in game two and followed up Tingley's performance with a complete game five hitter. She allowed only one run and struck out eight over her seven innings of work.

Central scored the first runs of the second game in the third inning. After junior Sarah Vlahos lined a single to leadoff the inning, Bruno and Mussatti each bunted for singles loading the bases.

Dilworth hit a fly ball deep to right, but the Hawks right fielder threw Vlahos out at the plate, completing a double play. The next batter was Barlow who singled into the hole scoring the only run of the inning for the Blue Devils.

Central got back on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Mussatti launched a long homerun to right center. The solo shot gave the Blue Devils a 2-0 lead.

Mussatti went three-for-three with a run scored and an RBI in the game two victory. Bruno who got a hit in both games ran her hitting streak to 13 games.

The Blue Devils return to action on Saturday when they host Sacred Heart for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.