Softball Shares Wins With Manhattan, Hathaway Walks-Off in Game One

The Central Connecticut softball team split a pair of contests with Manhattan on Saturday at CCSU Softball Field in New Britain, CT. CCSU sealed game one in thrilling fashion on a ninth inning walk-off bases loaded hit to deep right field, to hand the Blue Devils a 5-4 win over the Jaspers. Manhattan took the second game of the doubleheader 2-0 after notching two runs on its only four hits of the match in the top of the seventh inning.

CCSU moves on to 8-13 on the season and Manhattan is now 10-9 this year.

The Blue Devils will step right back onto the turf tomorrow Sunday, March 25 for another doubleheader in New Britain. CCSU will first face Iona at 1:00 p.m. and will then challenge the Terriers of Boston U. following the first match.

Iona and BU will play a neutral game at 11:00 a.m. prior to Central's doubleheader.

GAME ONE

The Blue Devils leapt out ahead of the Jaspers earlier in the first game with a three-run bottom half of the second inning. Freshman Sydney Bolan ignited the rally with her a four homerun of the season on a solo rocket over the right-fence, marking the third straight game the rookie went yard.

Sophomore Kaitlin Paterson kept the momentum going with an RBI-double back to right-center to score senior Gianna Hathaway. Senior Brittany Camara proceeded with a hard grounder to shortstop that sent junior Kerri Dadalski home.

The Jaspers broke the scoring seal in the top of the fourth inning to tie the game at 3-3 and would then take the lead in the top of the fifth on a RBI-double to center.

In the bottom of the seventh with two outs and the tying run at second base, senior Brittany McNulla ripped a single between third and short that scored the speedy Camara to tie the score at 4-4 and send the game to extras.

After a scoreless eighth inning, Central found itself in a familiar position with two outs with the base path full of Blue Devils. Hathaway launched a deep fly ball to right field that was out of the Jasper's reach to score Camara once again, this time to seal the walk-off victory.

Junior Alex Casañas (1-1) earned her first win of the season after starting the first four innings. Freshman Ashley Antonazzo was credited for the save and gave up just one run, striking out four Jaspers in five innings of work.

GAME TWO

A controversial foul ball down the third base line in the top of the seventh inning broke up senior Emily Sargent's no-hitter and fueled Manhattan to score two runs on four hits in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. Sargent threw her eighth complete game of the 2018 campaign and drops to 4-6 on the year.

The Blue Devils left runners on base in each of the first six innings. CCSU out-hit the Jaspers 6-4 led by a 2-for-3 effort from Dadalski.

McNulla recorded her second double of the season.

Lauren Pitney and Kat Prevo both knocked in doubles for the visitors. Manhattan's Nicole Williams improved to 5-3 on the season and totaled seven strikeouts.