Softball Sweeps Sacred Heart, 2-0, 10-1

Freshman Laura Messina earned the victory in both ends of a doubleheader sweep of Sacred Heart on Saturday.  Messina ends the day with 16 wins this season, which is a new program record for victories in a season.  The Blue Devils (22-14, 4-4 NEC) won the first game by a 2-0 score with Messina working a no-hitter for 6.2 innings.  In game two, the Blue Devils earned a 10-1 victory over the Pioneers (16-23, 5-5) as sophomore Arielle Bruno scored four runs.

Game One

Messina dominated in the circle throughout game one.  She allowed just one hit and walked no one, while striking out six hitters.  She faced just 24 batters in the game and was within one out of a no-hitter.

Messina allowed a single base runner in the first, another in the fifth and two in the seventh.  She retired the side in order in the second, third, fourth and sixth.

Senior Sarah Vlahos and sophomore Tessa Brown each had a pair of hits and an RBI in the game.  Both of Brown's hits were doubles.

The Blue Devils scored a single run in the top of the third inning when Bruno walked and scored on Brown's first double.

Senior Rebecca Mussatti scored Central's other run of the game in the fifth inning.  She singled and came around to score on Vlahos' second hit of the game.

Game Two

The Blue Devils got on the board with a single run in the first inning of game two.  Bruno doubled to start the game, she also doubled in the first inning of game one, and came around to score on a double by junior Nicole Springer.

Central broke open the game with three runs in the third.  Bruno walked and stole second before scoring on an RBI single by Mussatti, who advanced to second on the throw home.  After a line out by Brown, Springer delivered a single to score Mussatti.  A walk by senior Macy Stefanski prolonged the inning and advanced Springer to second base.  Sophomore Emily Pogemiller pinch-ran for Springer at second and then raced home to score Central's fourth run on freshman Alyssa McCoart's RBI single.

The Blue Devils added insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

In the fifth, Brown walked and moved to second on a single by Stefanski.  McCoart came through with her second RBI single of the game to plate Brown.

The Blue Devils scored their sixth run of the game in the sixth inning with Bruno, Mussatti and Brown stringing together three straight singles.

Messina allowed her first run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Central offense responded with four runs in the top of the seventh.

Messina pitched six innings in game two and allowed just one run.  On the day, she pitched 13.0 innings, earned two victories, and allowed just six hits.

Junior Jordan Tingley pitched the seventh inning and did not allow a run.

Bruno went three-for-three in game two and scored four runs.  Mussatti, Brown, Springer and McCoart all had two hits and two RBI in the second game.

"Laura did a tremendous job today of limiting a good team to just one run over 13 innings.  Am very happy that Laura set that record today, but obviously getting two victories today is the most important thing as we head down the stretch," head coach Jeff Franquet said after the game.

The Blue Devils return to action tomorrow when they host Wagner in a doubleheader.  First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12 p.m.