Bolan, Sargent Sweep Northeast Conference Week Six Awards
Bolan was named the NEC Player and Rookie, and Sargent was named the Pitcher of the Week.
Following a solid week-six performance from the Central Connecticut softball team, freshan Sydney Bolan and senior Emily Sargent swept the Northeast Conference weekly awards as announced by the league's front office on Monday afternoon. The duo played pivotal roles in the Blue Devils four wins over Seton Hall, Quinnipiac, Manhattan and Iona.
Bolan was recognized as the NEC Player and Rookie of the Week, marking the first time since week two of the 2018 softball season that a freshman was earned the top-player and top-rookie of the week nod (2/19, LIU - Ryleigh Bermea). Sargent was named the Pitcher of the Week.
Bolan delivered the best week of her young collegiate career to lead the Blue Devils to a 4-2 stretch. The freshman hit .333 with three home runs, seven RBIs and a .833 slugging percentage while also scoring on three occasions. On Tuesday, her two-run blast in the seventh inning provided insurance in CCSU's 6-1 win over Seton Hall. The Fair Point, NY product added another two-run dinger in an 11-1 victory over Quinnipiac on Thursday, then homered for the third straight game with a solo shot in the second inning to open up the scoring in a tight 5-4 win over Manhattan on Saturday. The following day she tacked on two more RBI's in the Blue Devils' 6-0 victory over Iona.
Bolan's recent power surge saw her take over the CCSU team-lead in home runs (4), and she ranks second in RBIs (10) on the season.
Sargent was an innings eater on the mound, tossing four complete games while accounting for three of Central's four wins on the week. In doing so, she compiled a 1.58 ERA with 14 strikeouts over 31 frames. The senior started the week going the distance in a 6-1 victory over Big East member Seton Hall. She was able to hold the Pirates to just one run by stranding eight runners while allowing six hits over the seven innings. Sargent followed that performance two days later by striking out five in a 11-1, five-inning blowout win over Quinnipiac.
The Lancaster, MA native tossed a complete-game shutout against Iona on Saturday, yielding just three hits while fanning a trio of Gael batters in the 6-0 victory. Sargent continues to be a workhorse for the Blue Devils, with 87 innings pitched on the season while posting a 2.82 ERA.
Bolan, Sargent and the rest of the Blue Devil squad will travel to Albany on Wednesday, March 28 for a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m. CCSU will then face Sacred Heart on Friday, March 30 in its Northeast Conference opener at CCSU Softball Field in New Britain, CT for a pair of games at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.