Softball Closes Tournament with Loss to Oakland
Senior Arielle Bruno hit a solo homer to score CCSU's only run of the game.
After shutting out #15 Stanford on Saturday, the Central Connecticut softball team closed out the USF Under Armour Invitational with a 4-1 loss against Oakland in Clearwater, FL Sunday morning. Senior Arielle Bruno hit a solo homer in the bottom of the third to score CCSU's only run of the game.
CCSU's record drops to 2-3 while Oakland improves to 10-8.
Junior Laura Messina struck out 11 batters in the loss while walking one and allowing just five hits. Messina pitched all seven innings and takes the loss. Her record drops to 2-1.
For the third consecutive game, and the fourth in the five-game tournament, CCSU put the first run on the board. In the top of the third, Bruno stepped up to the plate with one out to hit her first home run of the season and score the only run for CCSU. With Sunday's homer, Bruno breaks the three-way tie for second in program history with 21 career home runs.
Oakland posted two runs in the top of the fifth to take a narrow 2-1 lead on a two-run homer by Shannon Cleveland.
The Golden Grizzlies added two more in the top of the sixth to cap the game's scoring and clinch the win, 4-1.
CCSU's offense posted nine hits, one RBI and just one strikeout on the day, compared to five hits, four RBI and 11 strikeouts for Oakland.
The Blue Devils return to action Thursday, March 6 when they travel to Baltimore, MD to face Coppin State in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.