Softball Sweeps St. Francis, 6-2, 7-5

The Central Connecticut softball team swept Saint Francis (PA) on Monday afternoon.  The Blue Devils (27-19, 9-9 NEC) took game one by a score of 6-2 before winning game two 7-5.  Freshman Laura Messina earned her 20th victory of the season in game one. 

Game One

Freshman Laura Messina notched her 20th win of the season with the game one victory.  She allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits, while striking out seven and walking none.

Messina allowed a run in the top of the first inning and another in the fifth, but blanked the Red Flash the rest of the game.

The Blue Devils scored four runs on four hits in the third inning.  Senior Sarah Vlahos led off the inning with a double to centerfield, which was misplayed allowing her to advance to thid.  Senior Macy Stefanski walked and junior Stephanie Chotkevys singled to score Vlahos for Central's first run. 

After two quick outs, the Blue Devils scored again when sophomore Tessa Brown walked and junior Nicole Springer was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Freshman Kat Malcolm capped the inning with a two-run single to center that put Central ahead 4-2.

Springer hit a solo home run in the fifth inning and Stefanski singled home a run later in the frame to extend her team's lead to 6-2.

Springer and Malcolm each drove in two runs.  Freshman Alyssa McCoart and Vlahos both had two hits in the game.

With the victory Messina improves to 20-11 in the circle this year.

Game Two

The Blue Devils got on the board with a pair of runs in the first inning.  Both runs came on a home run by Springer.  The long blast to center was the tenth home run of the season for Springer, which ties a CCSU single-season record.

With one out in the third inning, Brown doubled to left and Springer walked.  Junior Sarah Emery, who had pinch run for Springer, and Brown both came around to score on a double by McCoart.  After advancing to third on a passed ball, McCoart scored on a single by Vlahos, which put the Blue Devils ahead 5-2.

The Blue Devils added a sixth run on a solo home run by sophomore Arielle Bruno leading off the fourth inning.

In the fifth, Vlahos hit a lead off single and then came around to score on a base hit by freshman Ashley Black.

Junior Jordan Tingley earned the victory in game two.  She pitched seven innings and allowed five runs, but only two were earned.  Tingley scattered nine hits and walked two, while striking out three.

Tingley is now 4-3 on the season with the victory.

As a team, Central pounded out 15 hits in the game.  Vlahos led the way with three hits, but Bruno, Black, Brown, Springer and McCoart all had two-hit games.

Vlahos went five-for-seven at the plate and also drew a walk on the day.

Springer hit her ninth and tenth home runs of the season and also drove in four runs to bring her RBI total to 41.

The Blue Devils return to action on Wednesday at Holy Cross.