Softball Wins 11 Straight, Tops UConn 3-1 Wednesday

The Central Connecticut softball team topped intrastate rival Connecticut, 3-1, on the road in Storrs, CT on Wednesday. With the win the Blue Devils improve to 22-7 overall on the season and extend their current winning streak to 11 straight games. UConn falls to 15-24 on the year with the loss.

Senior ace Laura Messina was dominant in the circle once again for CCSU, carrying the Blue Devils to victory. She tossed a complete game two-hitter and struck out nine Huskies to earn her 18th win of the season.

Central scored all three of its runs off UConn starter, Chelsea Eckert, in the top of the fifth inning to take a 3-0 lead. Junior Mackenzie Keyes reached on a fielder's choice and advanced all the way to third after a passed ball and single up the middle by classmate Katie Schmidt. Keyes would then break the scoreless tie following a UConn error.

Freshman Brittany Camara then provided the knock out blow two batter's later. With runners on first and second, Camara ripped a two-RBI triple to left field to extend the CCSU lead to 3-0 and give Messina all of the cushion she would need in an eventual 3-1 victory.

The Blue Devils finished the game with four hits led by the clutch triple from Camara. Senior Ashley Black and juniors Hannah Cooper and Schmidt all added singles to pace the CCSU offense.

Messina stifled the Huskies all game. After allowing a single and walk in the bottom of the first inning, Messina faced the minimum over the next five innings and retired 11 straight at one point. The only blemish on the senior's line came in the top of the seventh inning when she surrendered a leadoff solo home run to Emily O'Donnell.

Messina is now 18-3 on year and has earned the win in her last 10 consecutive starts with a 0.79 ERA over that span. She currently sports a 0.93 ERA in her senior season.

The Blue Devils will return to action on Sunday, hosting the defending NEC champions Bryant in a doubleheader on the CCSU Softball Field. Central is undefeated in league play at 8-0 and currently occupies first place in the NEC standings. First pitch for the contests between the Blue Devils and Bulldogs are scheduled for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.