Messina, Debrosse and Brown Sweep NEC Honors

A trio of Blue Devils swept the NEC weekly awards this week after starting conference play 2-0 this past weekend in a home doubleheader against Sacred Heart, the NEC announced Monday. Junior Laura Messina was named NEC Pitcher of the Week, freshman Alexis Debrosse was named NEC Rookie of the Week and senior Tessa Brown earned her first NEC Player of the Week honor of the season.

Messina opened conference play with a 5-0 shutout over the Sacred Heart Pioneers on Saturday, followed by a 4-3 victory in game two to sweep the NEC opening doubleheader. She tallied eight strikeouts in game one alone and finished the weekend with a 1.50 ERA. She posted 11 strikeouts on the day while allowing just six hits in 14 innings.

With the weekend's victories, Messina's record improves to 11-6 overall, adding to her CCSU win record of 61. This marks the third time Messina has been recognized as NEC Pitcher of the Week this season and the eighth nod of her career.

Debrosse kicked of NEC play with a .500 batting average in CCSU's 2-0 sweep over Sacred Heart on Saturday. The three-time NEC Rookie of the Week posted a 1.250 slugging percentage and a .667 on base percentage on the day, blasting her fourth home run of the season in game two. She went 2-for-4 on the weekend including a two-hit performance in game two in which she tallied two RBI and scored two runs. Debrosse crossed the plate three times on Saturday, accounting for three of CCSU's nine runs. The freshman ranks second on the CCSU squad in batting average (.347) and leads Central in home runs with four. She is rapidly approaching the CCSU record for home runs in a season (10).

Brown demonstrated an impressive performance in CCSU's opening NEC doubleheader on Saturday. The senior co-captain batted .400, slugged .600 and registered a .500 on base percentage. She went 2-for-3 at the plate in CCSU's narrow 4-3 victory over the Pioneers in a rainy game two, including her third double of the season. She also drove in an RBI and scored a run of her own. Brown leads the team with a .364 batting average this season, totaling 20 hits in 55 at bats including three doubles and one triple. She has also posted six runs, eight RBI, a .455 slugging percentage and .429 on base percentage. 

The Blue Devils are scheduled to return to action this Wednesday, April 2, at home against Holy Cross at 4 p.m.