Softball Shuts Out St. Bonaventure Sunday

The Central Connecticut softball team shut out St. Bonaventure at the Hampton Tournament in Hampton, VA on Sunday morning, 6-0. The win marks the fourth shutout this season for the Blue Devils (5-3). Sophomore Kenya McVey doubled for three RBI in the bottom of the third, then scored to give CCSU the final 6-0 advantage. 

Junior Laura Messina started in the circle and improves her record to 5-1 with the win. Messina pitched four scoreless innings for the Blue Devils, allowing just three hits and walking only one. She tallied five strikeouts, leaving her just four short of 500 for her career.

Messina was replaced in the circle in the top of the fifth by sophomore Sarah Gaalswijk who pitched three additional scoreless innings, closing the game with three strikeouts. Gaalswijk allowed no hits or walks.

St. Bonaventure (2-16) threatened in the top of the first when Emily McDonough tripled up the middle with no one on and just one out. Messina struck out the next batter and sophomore Evie Rentzel nabbed a fly in left to end the half inning, stranding McDonough on third.

Central opened its offense in the bottom of the first with a walk by senior Arielle Bruno followed by a successful bunt from junior Kat Malcolm to put two on base. Rentzel followed up with a double to drive in Malcolm and Bruno, giving CCSU a 2-0 lead.

Malcolm struck again in the bottom of the third, smacking a single up the middle with no outs. Rentzel was hit by a pitch to reach first followed by a Bonnie error to place freshman Sarah Drazin and load the bases. 

With two outs, bases loaded, McVey belted a double through the right side, her third of the season, to plate Malcolm, Rentzel and Drazin, putting CCSU up 5-0. McVey scored on the following play when sophomore Hannah Cooper sent one out to left field for CCSU's final run of the day.

CCSU posted seven hits on the day compared to three for St. Bonaventure.

McVey totaled one hit, one run and three RBI on the day. Malcolm posted two hits and two runs while Rentzel added two hits, one run and two RBI.

The Blue Devils are schedule to return to action Tuesday, March 11 at Hartford at 2 p.m.