Softball Tops URI In Five Innings
The Blue Devils swept Rhode Island 11-0 and 11-3 in two short games on Thursday.
The Central Connecticut softball team swept the Rhode Island Rams (9-28 overall) in a doubleheader on Thursday at the CCSU Softball field by scores of 11-0 and 11-3 in two five-inning games. The Blue Devils improve to 27-12 on the season with the victories.
Sophomore Laura Messina registered her 20th win and 10th shutout of the season and junior Arielle Bruno went 3-for-3 at the plate, scoring three runs and driving in four RBI in game one.
In game two, freshman Eileen Purcell led the Blue Devils with two hits in three at-bats, scoring three runs and driving in three RBI.
"Both our offense and defense were great today, Head Coach Jeff Franquet said. "The defense really backed up Laura and Nicole in the circle and everyone hit well, we are hoping to keep this momentum going through this weekend's match-up with Robert Morris as we battle for the number one spot."
Game 1
The Blue Devils got out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Bruno, who ranks in the top ten in eight categories in the CCSU career record book, led off the first inning with a deep double to right field. Senior Nicole Springer followed and launched her eighth homer of the season over right field to drive in two runs.
In the bottom of the second, CCSU went on a two-out rally to increase their lead to 5-0. Purcell stepped to the plate and launched her seventh double of the season and was followed by another from freshman Brittany Ernst to plate one. Ernst came home on a left-field bomb from Bruno, her fifth of the season.
The Rams threatened in the top of the fourth, putting two on base with only one out, however an unassisted double play by Purcell closed the half inning and ended the threat.
The Blue Devils added the final six runs in the bottom of the fourth on a 2 RBI single from Bruno, a Malcolm single and a homer by CCSU home run record-holder Kelsey Barlow.
CCSU tallied 10 hits in 21 at bats and left only one batter stranded on base.
Game 2
Senior Nicole Springer pitched the full five innings in game two, giving up only seven hits and striking out two batters. Her record improves to 6-2 on the season.
It was the Rams who got the scoring started in game two with a 1-0 lead in the top of the second.
The Blue Devils responded in the bottom of the second when a single to left from Purcell drove in freshman Evie Rentzel for the tying run. Purcell advanced to third on a wild pitch and was plated by freshman Kenya McVey, who flied out to right field.
Rhode Island added two to the board in the top of the third to re-claim the lead 3-2. The lead was short-lived however, by a seven-run rally in the bottom of the third to put CCSU up for good.
The big inning included a single by Springer, Barlow, Rentzel and Purcell as well as two doubles from Malcolm after batting all the way through the order. Malcolm tallied three RBI in the inning and Barlow, Rentzel, Purcell and Bruno each added one.
After holding the Rams scoreless in the top of the fourth, the Blue Devils added two more to make it 11 on a Barlow single, a Rentzel double and an RBI on a fielder's choice from Purcell. Freshman Brittany Ernst also tallied an RBI as she smacked a single to right field to plate McVey, who walked.
CCSU racked up 13 hits in game two compared to seven for URI.
The Blue Devils are on a six-win streak and creep up on the single season win record (31). They look to keep the momentum going as they face the number one ranked team in the NEC, Robert Morris. CCSU will host the Colonials on Saturday in a doubleheader set to begin at 1 p.m.