Softball Wins Second Northeast Conference Championship
The CCSU softball team topped LIU 9-8 in extra-innings to win its second Northeast Confernce Championship in program history.
The Central Connecticut softball team came from behind twice to defeat the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds 9-8 in extra-innings and win the 2015 Northeast Conference Softball Championship on Saturday afternoon in Moon Township, PA. Freshman Tori Constantin drove in senior Kat Malcolm in the top of the eighth inning to supply the game-winning hit and cap an improbable comeback victory. The title is the second for the Blue Devils in program history and the second in the past three seasons. With the win the Blue Devils improve to 31-12 overall on the year and earn an automatic berth into the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
The NCAA Selection Show to announce the 2015 NCAA Championship bracket and regional site that CCSU will attend takes place Sunday, May 10 at 10:00 p.m. and can be seen live, on ESPNU.
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Long Island jumped out to quick start in the game scoring two runs in the first inning, one in the second and a pair in the third off CCSU senior ace Laura Messina to build an early 5-0 advantage. However, the Blue Devils would respond and in a big way. Central scratched across a run in the top of the fifth inning before exploding for five runs in the top of the sixth to take its first lead of the game 6-5.
In the fourth inning the Blue Devils used a pair of walks by junior Katie Schmidt and senior Ashley Black, followed by two wild pitches from LIU starter Nicole Archer to push across their first run. CCSU then took advantage of two costly Blackbird errors and recorded three key hits to plate five runs in the sixth. Malcolm provided what may have been the most clutch hit of them all.
With two outs, runners on first and second and Central trailing 5-4, Malcolm laced a two-RBI triple into the right centerfield gap to bring around freshman Brittany Camara and Black to put the Blue Devils on top 6-5.
The Blackbirds would answer though and relied on their power throughout their lineup to re-take the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Victoria Zamora blasted a two-run home run over the left field fence to stun the Blue Devils and take a 7-6 lead heading into the final inning.
The resilience of the Blue Devils prevailed, however, and once again down to their final out and on the brink of dropping a game in the tournament, CCSU came up clutch. This time is was Camara who ripped a single to right field with the bases loaded to score Constantin and tie the game at 7-7, but another costly mistake by the Blackbirds on attempted throw home allowed junior Mackenzie Keyes to race home and put Central on top once again 8-7.
The back-and-forth contest continued as LIU re-tied the game, 8-8, in their final chance in the bottom of the seventh inning, again via the long ball. Ariana Lopez connected for a solo shot over the left field wall to keep the Blackbirds chances alive and force extra-innings.
It was then that Constantin would provide what would be ultimately the game-winning hit in the top half of the eighth inning. Malcolm led off the inning reaching on fielding error and sped all the way to second as the ball trickled into shallow left field. She would then advance over to third two batters later on a sacrifice bunt from junior Brittany Ernst. With two outs, Constantin pulled a 3-1 pitch over the LIU shortstop's head and into left field to score Malcolm and put Central up once again, 9-8.
Messina danced around a one-out single and stranded the tying run on second base as she scooped up a slow roller tapped back to the circle and tossed it to first to record the final out of the game and secure the 9-8 victory and NEC Championship.
Messina earned the win in the circle, throwing 149 pitches (99 strikes) over all eight innings for CCSU. She improved her record to 27-8 in the circle with the victory, striking out three and was named to the NEC All-Tournament team.
Camara, Malcolm and Constantin paced the CCSU offense in the game. Camara finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Malcolm was 2-for-4 with two-RBIs and a run scored and Constantin finished 2-for-4 with a RBI and run scored.
Camara and Malcolm were both also recognized on the NEC All-Tournament team with Messina and Malcolm was tabbed the 2015 NEC Tournament MVP. The senior finished the tournament batting .667 (6-for-9) with four RBIs, three runs scored and slugging percentage of 1.000.
Regionals for the NCAA Division I Softball Championship will be held May 15-17, 2015 on 16 campus sites. At each campus site, a four-team, double-elimination tournament will be conducted and the 16 winning teams advance to the Super-Regionals.
