Softball Shorted By Butler and USF, Sunday

The Central Connecticut softball team dropped its final two contests of the USF Under Armour Showcase against Butler and tournament host, South Florida, on Sunday, March 12. Butler snuck by the Blue Devils 3-1 in the first game, and CCSU fell 9-2 to USF to conclude their tournament schedule in Clearwater, FL. 

CCSU moves its record to 2-10. Butler improves to 11-11, and South Florida is now 16-11. The Blue Devils went 1-6 against their field of Florida opponents, highlighted by a 3-0 shutout win against Atlantic 10 member, La Salle, on Saturday.

Central jumped out to a 1-0 lead against Butler in the top of the fourth inning when freshman Kaitlin Paterson smacked a two-RBI single to left field scoring junior Brittany McNulla and freshman Emily Cronin. Butler's three-run fifth inning performance sealed the victory for the Bulldogs.

Junior Emily Sargent relieved classmate Alex Casanas at the mound in the sixth inning. Casanas allowed three hits in five innings in her second start for the Blue Devils this season.

USF struck first with a solo home run to right field, and freshman Sarah Ogilvie answered with her own lead off homer in the top of the second. The Bulls recorded a pair of hits that scored another run to take the 2-1 lead. 

McNulla and Cronin tallied singles for CCSU in the top of the third, sending classmate Brittany Camara home after reaching on a walk. Sargent retired South Florida top three batters in order, keeping the game tied at 2-2 heading into the fourth inning.

After the back and forth action, USF broke away with a five run fourth inning performance, and added two more in the sixth. Central was held scoreless in its last four chances at the plate, totaling six hits on the evening.

Sargent was credited for the loss, bringing her pitching record to 2-5 this season.

CCSU will host Providence on Sunday, March 19 in its home opener double-header at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.