Central Splits in Day Two of Pirate-Spartan Classic

The Central Connecticut softball team split a pair of games in its second day at the Pirate-Spartan Classic in Virginia. The Blue Devils defeated Morehead State 5-4 in the morning, and fell to tournmanet co-host Hampton 5-4 in the afternoon. Central travels to Baltimore, MD March 1-3 for a tournament at Morgan State University.

GAME ONE

After two scoreless innings, Morehead State was first on the board with Aubrey Bennet stole home as teammate Allison Davis stole second base giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead. 

In the top of the fourth Central would take the lead off a two-run homer by junior Sarah Ogilvie. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, freshman Rian Eigenmann singled to center field allowing two Blue Devils to score pushing the lead 4-0.

The Eagles responded in the fifth inning with three hits and two runs to cut the Blue Devil lead 4-3. Morehead State capitalized with the bases loaded in the sixth. Peyton Slater bunted leading to a score to tie the game 4-4 going into the final inning.

A double by senior Kaitlin Paterson, her only RBI of the game, would give Central its final run to pull out the win 5-4. In the bottom of the seventh the Blue Devils allowed no runs or hits.

Eigenmann finsihed 1-3 at bat and had two RBIs, Ogilvie totaled two RBIs, one hit and one run. In the circle for Central, freshman Kari Marks pictched six shutouts, allowing four hits and three runs in five innings. Sophomore Ashley Antonazzo pitched the final two innings including one shutout and allowing just two hits.

GAME TWO

Freshman Carly Storker threw three strike outs in the opening inning against Hampton. Freshman Carli Backlund smacked a double down the left field line that scored sophomore Sydney Bolan and junior Giuliana Hathaway giving Central a 2-0 lead in the top of the second.

The Pirates hit a triple with their first a bat in the bottom of the second inning followed by a single up the middle allowing Hampton to score cutting the lead 2-1. With a runner on first and third, Ashley Grassini capitalized with a double to send two Pirate players across the plate giving Hampton the lead 3-2.

After an error made by the Pirate's shortstop and center fielder, junior Emily Cronin, who pinch ran for Bolan, was able to make it home making the game an even 3-3. Storker held Hampton to no runs or hits in the fourth and fifth innings.

In the top of the seventh inning, Hampton led 4-3 and Storker had a sacrificed hit to centerfield to advance rookie Ryan Eigenmann to home plate to tie the game once more.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh and the bases loaded, Kennedy Hickey singled deep to left field giving the Pirates the 5-4 win.

Storker finished with a total of five strikeouts in six innings pitched for Central. Backlund had two RBIs in her three times at the plate.