Softball Splits NEC Doubleheader at Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday

The Central Connecticut softball team split a Northeast Conference doubleheader on the road with the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights on Saturday afternoon. The Knights took the first game by a score of 5-3, before the Blue Devils rebounded for a 10-7 win in game two. With the split, Central moves to 15-19 overall and 4-2 in NEC action, while Fairleigh Dickinson goes to 10-25 overall and 3-3 in the league.

Senior Eileen Purcell powered the Blue Devils at the plate on the afternoon, finishing 5-for-7 with a double, triple, two RBI and three runs scored over the two game set. Sophomore Brittany Camara hit a two-out, three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning in game two to propel the Blue Devils to the 10-7 win in the tail end of the twin bill.

Game 1 - CCSU 3, FDU 5

The Knights jumped out to an early 4-0 lead over CCSU in game one plating two runs in the first and second innings and held on for a 5-3 win.

A sacrifice fly by Reanna Cervantes started the scoring for the Knights in the bottom of the first inning to make it 1-0 and then Madison Lerma followed with a RBI single to give the home team a 2-0 advantage after the opening inning of play.

The Knights then built a 4-0 lead after Madeline Wilen launched her fourth home run of the season over the center field fence in the bottom of the second inning. A two-out walk to Stephanie Collins extended the inning to setup the home run by Wilen.

The Blue Devils scratched across a run in the top of the fourth inning the cut the FDU lead to 4-1. Sophomore Brittany McNulla hit a two-out double down the left field line to bring home Purcell who had reached on a fielding error to begin the inning.

Fairleigh Dickinson then got the run back in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend its lead back to 5-1. With runners on the corners and two outs, Cervantes successfully stole second and Kellie Natham came home on the throw down to second as the Blue Devils tried to throw Cervantes out on the play.

Central answered right back with two runs in the top of the sixth inning on a two-RBI double from sophomore Alexis Debrosse to make it 5-3 FDU, and threatened in the top of the seventh getting the tying run on base, but the Knights would hold on for the 5-3 victory in game one.

Sophomore Emily Sargent went the distance for the Blue Devils in the opener pitching 6.0 innings, but was dealt the loss as she surrendered five earned runs on seven hits and five walks. She struck out one, while firing 63 strikes in 100 pitches.

Lauren Stavrou picked up the win in the circle for the Knights tossing 5.0 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk. She struck a pair of Blue Devils in the victory.

Purcell was the only Blue Devil to record a multi-hit game in game one going 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Debrosse finished the opener 1-for-4 with a double and two-RBI.

Game 2 - CCSU 10, FDU 7

Sophomore Brittany Camara blasted a two-out, three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to break a 7-7 deadlock and lift the Blue Devils to a 10-7 victory in game two for the split  on Saturday.

It was the Blue Devils who cracked the scoreboard first in game two with a pair of runs in the opening inning. Senior Evie Rentzel ripped a two-RBI single to right-center field to give the visitors an early 2-0 advantage.

The Knights punched right back in the bottom half of the inning as Wilen sent her second home run of the day and fifth of the season over the right-center field fence to lead off the frame and make it 2-1 Blue Devils.

Central responded to the threat right away though and pushed across two more runs in the top of the second inning to build a 4-1 lead. Purcell came in clutch with a two-RBI single through the left side to account for the scoring.

However, the Knights used the long ball once again keep things close as Courtney Slye led off the bottom of the second with a home run to center field to cut its deficit to 4-2 through two innings of action. Cervantes then followed with a home run of her own in the third inning to bring the score to 4-3.

The Blue Devils answered once again though and responded with two runs in the top of the fourth to build a 6-3 lead over the Knights. A RBI single by Debrosse scored the first run of the inning and put runners on the corners for CCSU and then Debrosse stole second and an errant throw down to second allowed Rentzel to trot home to account for the scoring. Rentzel singled earlier in the inning.

The Knights would take advantage of a pair of Blue Devil errors in the bottom half of the inning though to tie the game 6-6. The home team would then go on to take their first lead of the game, 7-6, after Francine Villalobos laced a RBI-single to left-center field in the bottom of the fifth.

Purcell would come up big for CCSU in the top of the sixth after she hit a one-out triple down the right-field line and then came around to score to tie the game on a RBI groundout from Rentzel.

That set up the dramatic for Camara in the top of the seventh inning. Following two quick outs by Central, senior Katie Schmidt singled and freshman Kaitlin Paterson was hit-by-pitch to bring up Camara with a pair of runners on base. The sophomore took matters into her own hands and blasted a three-run home run down the right-field line to give CCSU a 10-7, which proved to be the deciding factor to give the Blue Devils the split on the day.

Freshman Alex Casanas started in the circle for the Blue Devils in game two and worked 4.0 innings. She allowed seven runs (three earned) on five hits and five walks. Sargent came on in relief and picked up the win pitching the final 3.0 innings without allowing a run. She gave up three hits and struck out one and moves her record to 10-8 overall on the season.

Camara, Purcell, Rentzel, and Debrosse each logged multi-hit games in game two as the Blue Devils pounded out 10 hits for the 10-7 win. Camara and Rentzel each finished the second game with three RBI.

The CCSU softball team will return to action next with a NEC doubleheader at home on Sunday against LIU Brooklyn. First pitch of game one in scheduled for 1 p.m.