Softball Closes Season on Day 2 of NEC Tournament
The Blue Devils fell to LIU Brooklyn by a score of 4-2 on Friday.
The Central Connecticut softball team fell to LIU Brooklyn in game five of the 2014 NEC Softball Tournament on Friday by a score of 4-2. The loss ends the season for the Blue Devils with an overall record of 29-16.
The LIU Blackbirds (22-33) will advance to tomorrow's championship game against the Bryant Bulldogs.
Junior Laura Messina pitched all seven innings for CCSU, striking out seven batters for a final season total of 266 strikeouts. The NEC Pitcher of the Year allowed seven hits and no walks to end the 2014 season. She concludes her junior campaign with a 24-13 record.
LIU got out to an early lead, posting two runs on three hits in the top of the first. The Blackbirds added another in the top of the third on a home run by Lauren Morizi to make it 3-0 LIU.
The Blue Devils narrowed the deficit to one in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore Eileen Purcell led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A single from freshman Sarah Drazin advanced Purell to third and she scored on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Hannah Cooper.
Senior Arielle Bruno blasted an RBI single through the right side to score sophomore Brittany Ernst, who pinch ran for Drazin, for CCSU's second run.
LIU put the game out of reach in the top of the sixth with another run on an RBI triple.
The Blue Devils tallied six hits compared to seven for LIU. Sophomore Eileen Purcell led CCSU going 2-for-3 at the plate while scoring one run. Rentzel also posted two hits on the day.
