Softball Drops Pair of Contests to Saint Francis on Sunday

The Central Connecticut softball team fell in a hard fought battle in game one to the Northeast Conference leading Saint Francis U Red Flash 3-1 on Sunday, April 23 in New Britain, CT. SFU took game two 9-2. Central moves to 10-23 and 4-8 in the NEC, while Saint Francis moves on to 39-9 and remains unbeaten at 12-0 in the league.

Junior Alexis Debrosse led the Blue Devils at the plate with two hits and three RBI on the afternoon. 

GAME ONE

The league leader in home runs, Jordan Seneca put the Red Flash on the scoreboard first will a solo shot to center field. In the bottom of the first inning, Central's lead off shortstop, Alexis Debrosse responded with an emphatical second pitch home run bomb to right center to single-handedly tie the score at 1-1. 

In the top of the second inning junior starting pitcher, Emily Sargent forced the SFU's five-six-seven batters into three consecutive fly outs. The Red Flash delivered a two-out two run standing double to right center to take a 3-1 lead. 

SFU threatened Central Connecticut in the top of the fifth inning, after placing three runners in scoring position on two hits. Sargent carried CCSU out of the pickle registering two strikeouts, and hustling to assist in a run down play to tag out Kindra Withus trying to steal home after her lead off triple.

In the top of the sixth, CCSU's defense continued to perform through Saint Francis' offensive pressure, leaving two runners stranded on third and second for the second consecutive inning. Sargent came in clutch again on a sacrifice squeeze and was able to get the runner out at the plate.

Abby Trahan, who came to the mound in relief for Ethel Santai in the top of the fourth inning, sealed the victory for Saint Francis without allowing a base runner in the final two Blue Devil opportunites at the plate.

Sargent (5-17) went all seven innings and struck out six Red Flash hitters in her 17th complete game of the year.

GAME TWO

After a scoreless first inning for both squads in game two, Saint Francis tacked on two runs that were initiated by a lead off double from the third baseman in the top of the second inning. Freshman left fielder, Emily Cronin, made a leaping catch at the fence to steal away a run from the Red Flash for the last out in the top of the third. 

SFU was able to pick up a run in both the third and fourth innings to extend its lead 4-0. The Blue Devils fell behind 9-0 after the Red Flash combined for five runs on five hits off of sophomore starting pitcher, Alex Casañas in the fifth inning. 

Central Connecticut rookie Kaleigh Edwards would foil SFU pitcher, Katarah DeVries's no-hitter with a lead off single to right field in the bottom of the fifth. Classmate Alicia Bertolino then moved Edwards to second on a hard hit single to the left side of the diamond. Debrosse crushed a two run double that bounced off the left field fence, bringing the score to 9-2.

Sargent relieved Casañas in the sixth, coolly retiring the side. The junior allowed just one hit and held the Red Flash scoreless in the last two innings. Trahan closed out game two in similar fashion for SFU.

The Central Connecticut softball team will set off on a two game road series beginning at Providence on Tuesday, April 25 for a doubleheader at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Blue Devils will then travel to Boston University on Thursday, April 27 for a 2:00 p.m. contest.