Softball Sweeps Doubleheader at LIU Brooklyn on Saturday
The Blue Devils walked away with a 3-1 win in game one, and shutout LIU 2-0 in game two on Saturday.
The Central Connecticut softball team swept LIU Brooklyn on Saturday, April 29, 2017 in a doubleheader in Staten Island, NY. CCSU won game one 3-1 and game two 2-0 in a crucial matchup with championship season right around on the corner beginning on May 11. The Blue Devils will host Fairleigh Dickinson tomorrow, April 30 at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. at CCSU Softball field.
Junior Brittany Camara scored a run and broke out a double in each of the two contests for CCSU. Sophomore Kerri Dadalski went 3-for-5 (.600) with three singles to lead the Blue Devil's at the plate. Central improves to 6-8 in the NEC, and 13-24 on the season. LIU falls to 4-10 in the league, and 18-32 on the year.
GAME ONE
En route to her 19th complete game of the season, junior pitcher Emily Sargent struck out six Blackbirds and gave up just three hits. Both squads were held scoreless in the first, second, and third innings in a solid defensive display. Central was able to break the draught in the top of the fourth inning, with two runs on three hits.
Camara and junior catcher, Brittany McNulla cracked back-to-back doubles, respectively, to ignite the rally. McNulla was advanced to third on a well-placed sacrifice bunt from rookie Sarah Ogilvie. Junior Tori Constantin then came in clutch with a two out single past the third baseman that sent McNulla home and put CCSU up 2-0.
Still fueled with the momentum, the Blue Devils racked in another run in the top of the fifth inning when McNulla singled up the middle of the diamond, scoring freshman Emily Cronin who reached on an error by the Blackbird's second baseman.
Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, LIU threatened Central in a lead off solo home run to left field. Sargent, and the Blue Devil defense were unphased and finished off LIU Brooklyn with three consecutive outs in the bottom of the seventh.
Central out-hit LIU 7-to-3, led by McNulla's 2-for-3 performance at the plate.
GAME TWO
After going hitless in their first at-bats, the Blue Devils scored game two's first run in the top of the second to go up 1-0. Freshman Alicia Bertolino was credited with the run after a critical error from the Blackbird's catcher.
Central's Camara knocked in her second double of the day in the top of the sixth, and advanced to third on a grounder from McNulla. Ogilvie sent the junior home on a gap shot to right center to give CCSU the 2-0 lead.
Sophomore pitcher, Alex Casañas left three Blackbird runners stranded in their final two chances at a comeback to seal the Blue Devils first doubleheader sweep of the 2017 campaign. Casañas completed her fourth game in the circle and earned her first shutout of the year.