Central Stays Scorching Hot With Comeback Wins Over Sacred Heart

The Central Connecticut State University softball team overcame a deficit in both games of the double header outlasting Sacred Heart. The Blue Devils won each game by a score of 4-3, the team's seventh and eight wins by one run. With the victories, the Blue Devils remained undefeated in Northeast Conference play, now standing at 14-0. 

GAME ONE

Score: Central Connecticut 4, Sacred Heart 3

Records: CCSU (15-5, 13-0 NEC), Sacred Heart (8-11, 6-5 NEC)

Location: CCSU Softball Field | New Britain, CT

Pitching Records: W: Hunte (3-0) | L: Walsh (4-4) | Sv: --

KEY MOMENTS

• Both teams struggled at the plate early on, with just a combined two hits in three and a half innings.

• CCSU finally struck first after Kaitlin Paterson scored on a throwing error made by the Sacred Heart pitcher. 

• The Blue Devils held a 1-0 lead into the top of the sixth inning, when Sacred Heart made some noise. The first two batters for the Pioneers reached on a walk and an infield single. Amy Petrovich stepped up and sent a drive into left field and into the Sacred Heart bullpen. The blast gave the Pioneers a 3-1 advantage.

• Freshman Anaya Hunte came into pitch and shut down Sacred Heart, keeping CCSU in the ball game. Hunte dealt three innings, allowing no runs and picked up her third win.

• The Blue Devils were able to tie the bottom of the sixth, after reigning NEC Player of the Week Kaitlin Paterson belted a two-run shot to right field. Paterson finished the game 3-3, scoring two runs and driving in two.

• Central held Sacred Heart scoreless in the top of the seventh, and had a chance to win it. With one out, senior Meg Dugas ended the game with a home run to left center. It was the third home run for Dugas and pushed CCSU to 13-0 in conference play.

GAME TWO

Score: Central Connecticut 4, Sacred Heart 3

Records: CCSU (16-5, 14-0 NEC), Sacred Heart (8-12, 6-6 NEC)

Location: CCSU Softball Field | New Britain, CT

Pitching Records: W: Whittaker (4-1) | L: Pfister (0-2) | Sv: --

KEY MOMENTS

• Sacred Heart did not struggle early in game two, quickly taking a 2-0 lead in the top half of the first inning. Designated player Alyssa Gonzalez drilled a home run to center field, a two-run shot.

• The Pioneers tacked on another run in the fourth inning off a home run from Emily Carroll with one out. Central found itself down 3-0.

• Through five plate appearances as a team, the Blue Devils had just three hits and no real scoring opportunities. However, the team found its momentum in the bottom of the sixth inning.

• Junior Rian Eigenmann led the inning off with a double off the left field wall. Shortstop Carli Backlund followed with a double of her own, and Eigenmann came around to score Central's first run. Kailtin Paterson stayed hot, lacing a single to right field and allowing Backlund to score. The Blue Devils would not be finished however, after Kim Howard hit the team's third double of the inning and knocked in two runs. The double was the fifth hit in the inning and gave CCSU a 4-3 edge over the Pioneers. 

• Pitcher Kaylee Whittaker struck out the side in the seventh, ending the game. Whittaker dealt a complete game allowing three runs on three hits, but struck out 11 batters.

UP NEXT

Central and Sacred Heart meet again for a double header starting at 1:00 and 3:00 pm.