Blue Devils Catch Fire on Cold Friday
The CCSU softball team scored 16 runs in two wins over Fairleigh Dickinson.
The CCSU softball team found a way to warm the bats on a frigid Friday afternoon. The Blue Devils scored a combined 16 runs on 16 hits in two wins over Fairleigh Dickinson. With the wine, Central stays perfect at 6-0 in NEC play, the best start since the 2014-15 season when the team started 8-0 in NEC play. The Blue Devils will have a chance to tie that mark tomorrow in another double header against Fairleigh Dickinson.
GAME ONE
Score: Central Connecticut 3, Fairleigh Dickinson 2
Records: CCSU (7-5, 5-0 NEC), FDU (0-7, 0-5 NEC)
Location: FDU Softball Field | Hackensack, NJ
Pitching Records: W: Houghton (2-1) | L: Savaglio (0-4) | Sv: Hunte (1)
KEY MOMENTS
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Leadoff hitter Rian Eigenmann started CCSU off with a base hit through the left side. The catcher then stole second, getting into scoring position. Freshman Paige Stringer (3-3) continued her breakout season, ripping a double off the wall in right center and scoring Eigenmann. The Blue Devils led 1-0 after one.
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Central felt some pressure in the fourth inning, after Fairleigh Dickinson loaded the bases on a walk, hit by pitch, and an error. With two out, Kate Houghton was able to strike out Abbey Hoesman of FDU and get out of the jam. Houghton finished her day pitching four scoreless innings and striking out four batters.
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The Blue Devils added a run in the top of the sixth inning, after Kim Howard reached on an error allowing Kaitlin Paterson to score. Bri Walker then singled to left field scoring Paige Stringer. Walker finished game one going 1-3 with a RBI and CCSU expanded its lead to 3-1.
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The Knights quickly responded in the bottom half of the sixth, with a two-run home run from Cassidy Triksa. Central's lead was reduced to just 3-2.
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Fairleigh Dickinson was able to get the leadoff hitter on base with a walk from Hunte. Mahoney then layed down a sacrifice bunt and was thrown out at first, but the runner ahead of her took off to third. Paige Stringer fired the ball over to Meg Gorman at third who tagged out the runner. The play was scored as a 2-3-5 double play. Anaya Hunte then struck out the final batter and CCSU took game one by a score of 3-2. Houghton picked up her second win of the season and Hunte earned her first save in her collegiate career.
GAME TWO
Score: Central Connecticut 13, Fairleigh Dickinson 3 (6 innings)
Records: CCSU (8-5, 6-0 NEC), FDU (0-8, 0-6 NEC)
Location: FDU Softball Field | Hackensack, NJ
Pitching Records: W: Marks (2-1) | L: Bell (0-1) | Sv: --
KEY MOMENTS
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Freshman Paige Stringer got the Blue Devils going, blasting a home run into the Hackensack River. The two-run shot was the fifth of the season for Stringer and gave Central a 2-0 lead. Stringer recorded four hits in five at bats in the two games.
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Fairleigh Dickinson got one right back in the bottom half of the inning after Alayna Savaglio hit a RBI single scoring Triska.
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Central expanded its lead 5-1 after three innings after Kim Howard was hit by a pitch scoring a run and Meg Dugas reached on a pop up taken by the wind.
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In the fourth inning, Carli Backlund and Kaitlin Paterson hit back-to-back solo home runs giving CCSU a 7-1 edge. The blasts marked the fourth home run for Backlund and first for Paterson.
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Carli Backlund continued her offensive dominance, with a bases clearing single to center field. The New Jersey native collected two hits and drove in four runs in her home state in game two.
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Central added three more runs in the sixth inning on RBI's from Bri Walker, Molly Bruyns, and Rian Eigenmann.
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The team scored 13 runs on 10 hits and blasted three home runs.
- Kari Marks picked up the win, going 4.1 innings and giving up three earned runs. Anaya Hunte once again closed out the game, throwing 1.2 innings and allowing no runs.
UP NEXT
CCSU and FDU meet again tomorrow for a double header at 12:00 and 2:00 pm.