Koehler Posts Three-Hit Afternoon at Long Island, Blue Devils Fall Twice

Central Connecticut (6-27, 2-8) lost 6-0 and 3-0 at Long Island (20-14, 10-1) in Northeast Conference road play. Sophomore Erica Koehler had a pair of singles in the opener. She doubled in the second contest, while sophomore Katherine Knowles singled twice.

An RBI ground rule double off the bat of sophomore Bianca Mejia gave Long Island a 1-0 lead in the second inning of the first game. The Blackbirds added three runs in the fourth, and a two-run home run by Mejia in the fifth accounted for the game's final runs.

Junior Jaclyn Logan and sophomore Kendall Sours each had a single for the Blue Devils. Sophomore Elizabeth Montemurro gave up six runs, three earned, on eight hits over five innings. Freshman Abby Harpp completed the game with a perfect sixth. Mejia finished 2-for-3 with four RBI to lead the LIU offense. Junior Blaire Porter picked up the win on the mound. She surrendered four hits and struck out seven.

The second game started off as a pitcher's duel. Neither Blue Devil senior starter Rachel Brenneman nor Long Island senior Jenny Giles allowed a hit over the first three innings. Central Connecticut had two hits in the fourth but could not plate a run. LIU broke up Brenneman's no-hit bid in the final half of the fourth but also did not get on the board.

The Blackbirds put the only runs up in the sixth inning. Junior Mariesha Marker walked and stole second to start the three-run stanza. Senior Renae Beauchman drove Marker in, and freshman Sterling Hoham hit a two-run homer to make it 3-0. Giles completed the win, allowing just three hits while striking out four. Brenneman gave up the three runs on three hits with four strikeouts.

Central Connecticut will continue Northeast Conference road play tomorrow. The Blue Devils will face Wagner in doubleheader action beginning at noon.