Softball Loses Two to Delaware on Final Day of Felsberg Tournament Sunday

The Central Connecticut softball team dropped a pair of games on the final day of the Felsberg Invitational Tournament on Sunday. CCSU lost 5-2 and then 3-0 in a split doubleheader against Delaware to fall to 1-6 overall on the season and finish 0-6 in the tournament. They will be back in action next as they return to Connecticut for a doubleheader at Hartford on Wednesday, Mar. 9 beginning at 2 p.m.

Game #1 vs. Delaware

Delaware scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning and that would be all they would need as they went on to defeat Central 5-2 in the front-end of a split doubleheader between the Blue Devils and Blue Hens.

Gabby Klecko drove in the first run of the game for Delaware with a one-out single to left field. The Blue Hens' Giovanna Kolofer followed with a RBI groundout to plate the second run and then a CCSU throwing error one batter later gave Delaware the early 3-0 advantage.

The Blue Devils would immediately respond in the top half of the third inning and pushed across a run to make it 3-1. Freshman Kaitlin Paterson logged her first collegiate extra base hit as she ripped a one-out double to centerfield before coming around to score after Delaware committed a throwing error on a single from sophomore Brittany McNulla.

The Blue Hens would get the run right back though in the bottom of the third off the bat of Lisa Stacevicz. Stacevicz doubled down the right field line to bring home Madison Vicendese and extend the lead back to 4-1. Delaware then added one more run to its lead in the bottom of fourth inning on a two-out RBI single from Anna Steinmetz.

Senior Eileen Purcell got one run back for the Blue Devils in the top of the fifth inning with the first home run of the season by a Blue Devil. Her solo shot over the left field wall marked the 10th long ball of her career and accounted for the 5-2 final.

Freshman Alex Casañas started the game for Central in the circle and picked up the loss, twirling 3.0 innings and allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks. She falls to 0-4 on the season with the loss. Sophomore Emily Sargent came on in relief and did a nice job over the final 3.0 innings of work. She only allowed one run on four hits and struck out a pair.

Game #2 vs. Delaware

The Blue Hens struck first in the second game as well scoring a pair of runs in the second inning and then tacked on a third in the fourth as they shutout the Blue Devils 3-0. The pair of wins on Sunday improved Delaware's record to 7-4 overall on the season.

Delaware led off the second frame with two straight singles to put runners on the corners for the Blue Hens. Pinch runner Alyshia Dellatore then stole second and following a line out, Giovanna Kolfer delivered for Delaware with 2-RBI single to right field to give the Blue Hens an early 2-0 edge.

In the fourth, Delaware capitalized on a Blue Devil miscue with two outs to extend the inning and eventually put runners on the corners after a single to right field from Leanna Gearhart. Gearhart then stole second and the Blue Devils tried to throw her out, but were unsuccessful which allowed the runner from third to score on the play and give them a 3-0 lead.

Central kept the Blue Hen offense at bay for the rest of the game, but were unable to push any runs across the plate to chip into the lead. CCSU's best chance to score came in the seventh inning as they made one last push to get back into the game.

Senior Evie Rentzel opened the inning with a single to right field followed by a walk by classmate Hannah Cooper. Two batters later senior Katie Schmidt reached on a fielder's choice and the Blue Hens didn't record an out on the play to load the bases full of Blue Devils. Delaware's starting pitcher, Carolyn Szymanski, escaped the jam though getting a strikeout and groundout to end the game and secure the victory.

CCSU logged four hits in the game, all singles. Senior Mackenzie Keyes, sophomore Brittany Camara, Paterson and Rentzel each picked up base knocks in the setback.

Casañas started the second game in the circle for the Blue Devils spinning 5.0 innings and allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk with one strikeout. Sargent came on in relief once again and pitched 2.0 innings without surrendering a hit. She also struck out one.

The CCSU softball team will be back in action next as they return to Connecticut for a doubleheader at Hartford on Wednesday, Mar. 9 beginning at 2 p.m.