Softball Battles with Unbeaten Saint Francis in Game One of NEC Tournament
The Central Connecticut softball team led 4-1 going into the fifth inning, but ultimately fell 6-to-4 at Saint Francis PA on Thursday.
Kaylee Whittaker (13-10) suffered her tenth loss of the season going the distance for The Blue Devils. She gave up ten hits and six runs with two strikeouts. Meg Gorman and Ava Cino each had two hits, and KC Machado hit a solo shot for The Blue Devils, but it was not enough to hold off the top-ranked offense in the league.
Rachel Marsden (19-5) earned her ninetieth win of the season giving up seven hits, four runs (two earned), and five walks while fanning just four Blue Devils. Lexi Hernandez led Saint Francis with two hits, a home run and two RBIs.
GAME INFORMATION
SCORE: CCSU 4, Saint Francis PA 6
LOCATION: Loretto, PA | Red Flash Softball Field
RECORDS: CCSU (26-18), SFU (38-12)
KEY MOMENTS:
TOP 1ST: Meg Gorman set the tone with a double to right field to get Devs rolling. Ashlyn Desaulniers moved Gorman to second with a groundball. Stringer walked and Gorman scored on a wild pitch to give Central an early 1-0 lead.
BOTTOM 2ND: Lexi Hernandez homered for Saint Francis to tie the game 1-to-1.
TOP 3RD: KC Machado led the inning off with a solo blast to center field. The Blue Devils loaded the bases for Brooke Fedison who then walked and Central led 3-to-1.
BOTTOM 5TH: Saint Francis began the inning with a base hit, followed by a walk and another base hit to load the bases for Lexi Hernandez. Hernandez singled to right field to plate a run for the Red Flash. Rachel Marsdon singled to plate their third run of the inning and a sacrifice fly by the next Red Flash batter tied things up at four with one out and runners on first and third. The runner at first stole second and an errand throw to center allowed for everyone to be safe and another run to cross for The Red Flash who now led 5-to-4.
BOTTOM 6TH: The Saint Francis Red Flash earned an insurance run with a two-out RBI from Annabelle Farmer.
NOTES:
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The Red Flash lead the all-time series 29-18 against The Blue Devils with Central Connecticut's last victory being in April of 2023.
UP NEXT..
The Blue Devils will face the losers of #3 Sacred Heart vs #2 LIU tomorrow at 1:00.
