Softball Sweeps Two Games Saturday

The Central Connecticut softball team defeated the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, 7-2, in the first game of a split doubleheader and defeated Niagara, 6-1, in the second game on day two of the Elon Softball Tournament on Saturday. With the wins the Blue Devils are 3-0 in the tournament and are now 6-6 overall on the season. CCSU will be back in action on Sunday against Elon at Hunt Softball Park in Elon, NC.

Game 1 vs. Oakland

The Blue Devils scored at least one run in every inning other than the second and pounded out 11 hits en route to a 7-2 victory over Oakland in their first game on Saturday at the Elon Softball Tournament.

CCSU cracked the scoreboard first with a run in the bottom half of the first. Freshman Kaitlin Paterson led off the game for the Blue Devils with a double to left-center field and came around to score on a RBI single by senior Eileen Purcell to give Central the early 1-0 edge.

The Golden Grizzlies answered with a run in the top of the second to tie the game 1-1. Kaley Waalkes opened the frame with a single and was moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on a RBI single by Haley Zemmer.

Central would then go on to take the lead for good with two runs in the bottom of the third inning off the bat of sophomore Alexis Debrosse. Patterson opened the frame with her second hit of the game, a single to left field, and then two batters later Debrosse slugged a two-run home run over the left field wall to give the Blue Devils a 3-1 lead. The home run was the first of the season for Debrosse.

Oakland got back a run in the fifth, but the Blue Devils tacked on a run in the fourth, another in the fifth and two more in the sixth for the 7-2 win. In the fourth, sophomore Brittany Camara led off with a single before coming around to score on a RBI double by her classmate Brittany McNulla.

A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases full of Blue Devils in the fifth inning before Patterson drew another walk to plate the fifth run of the game for CCSU and make it 5-2. Central then added two more runs in the sixth for the 7-2 win. Sophomore Tori Constantin drove in the first run with a RBI groundout and senior Hannah Cooper brought in the final run after an Oakland fielding error.

Freshman Alex Casanas earned the victory inside the circle for the Blue Devils. She spun a complete game yielding two runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out four. She fired 77 strikes in 125 pitches and now sports a 2-5 record on the year for the Blue Devils.

Purcell finished 3-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored to lead the way for the Blue Devils offensively. Patterson also logged a multi-hit game finishing 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Debrosse went 1-for-2 with the home run, a pair of walks, two RBI and two runs scored.

Game 2 vs. Niagara

The Blue Devils erupted for six runs in the fifth inning to down the Purple Eagles, 6-1, on Saturday night in their second game of the day.

Niagara got on the board in the first inning after Taylor Moody walked to lead off the game. She moved to second base on a sacrifice and came home two batters later when Sarah March doubled to right center field to make it 1-0.

The score would stay that way until CCSU came to bat in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, freshman Kerri Dadalski tied the game with a homerun to center field. The next three Central batters would reach base, including singles by Camara and Paterson to load the bases with one out. McNulla singled to left field to drive in two runs and give the Blue Devils a 3-1 lead. Debrosse would follow with a double to score Paterson and a sacrifice fly by Purcell would score another run to make it 5-1. Debrosse would come home on a Niagara error to close out the scoring and make it 6-1.

The lead would be enough for sophomore Emily Sargent who would pick up the win for Central. She threw a complete game, allowing just one run on two hits. She walked one and struck out five, while throwing 58 strikes on 82 pitches.

Camara went 2-for-3 to lead the Blue Devils at the plate, while McNulla drove in a pair of runs.

The Blue Devils will be back in action against Elon on Sunday at Noon.