Blue Devils Split a Pair of Games in Home Opener Against Hartford

The Central Connecticut softball team split a pair of games with cross-town rival Hartford for its home opener on Thursday afternoon. The Hawks took the first game 3-0 and the Blue Devils battled back in game two winning 10-5. Central is now 6-7 overall and Hartford is now 1-7. Central hosts Hartford for another double-header on Saturday at noon and 2 p.m.

GAME ONE

The first three innings were scoreless before Hartford scored two of its three runs in the bottom of the fourth. With a runner on first, the Hawks connected on a two-run homer to left field.

In the bottom of the sixth, Hartford got a runner to second base on a throwing error. After a single, the Hawks had a runner on first and third. The third batter of the inning recorded an RBI for Hartford to score its final run. 

Central totaled five hits in game one and Carley Stoker pitched all six innings throwing seven strikeouts and having just two errors.

GAME TWO

CCSU was determined to earn a split with the Hawks scoring seven of its 10 runs in the first three innings. In her first at bat in game two, sophomore Sydney Bolan hit a two-run homer putting Central on the board early 2-0. In the bottom of the first, Hartford scored off a single-RBI shortening the lead 2-1.

After a scoreless second inning, the Blue Devils totaled five runs in the third taking a 7-1 lead. Junior Guliana Hathaway had a sacrificed hit allowing freshman Rian Eigenmann to cross home plate. Junior Alicia Bertolino recorded a single-RBI to send freshman Alyssa Contreras home. With the bases loaded, junior Emily Cronin walked advancing classmate Sarah Ogilvie to home plate. The Hawks scored its second run in the bottom of the inning off a single-RBI.

Hartford scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth cutting into the Central lead 7-5, but a two-run homer by freshman Carli Backlund in the top of the sixth pushed CCSU back head 9-5.

The Blue Devils scored its final run in the top of the seventh inning and allowed just two hits in the in bottom of the seventh to close out the game.

Ashley Antonazzo pitched all seven innings for the Blue Devils allowing 11 hits, five runs, and two walks. She threw four strikeouts and had just two errors on the game.