Softball Falls to Elon in Extra Innings on Sunday

The Central Connecticut softball team snapped a five game winning streak as they dropped a 1-0 decision in 10 innings to the Elon Phoenix in their final game of the Elon Softball Tournament on Sunday afternoon. The loss to the host team was the only setback of the tournament for the Blue Devils as they finished the weekend 3-1 and are now 6-7 overall on the year. Elon improves to 12-11 on the season with the win.

Neither team could push a run across the plate over the first nine innings in a classic pitchers duel at Hunt Softball Park in Elon, NC on Sunday. That was until Elon broke through in the bottom of the 10th for a walk-off 1-0 victory.

Emily Roper led off the 10th for the Phoenix with a double to right-center field before being pinch run for by Kayla Caruso. Caruso would move up to third on a fielder's choice and then two batters later, Kristin Hoover delivered the game-winning hit with a single to center field to plate Caruso for the 1-0 walk-off win.

The Blue Devils best chance to score came in the top of the 10th inning when senior Eileen Purcell clubbed a one-out double to left field, but she was left stranded there as Elon's Elise Walton worked out of the minor jam with a strikeout and groundout. Purcell ended up being the only Blue Devil to reach second base in the game.

Walton earned the win in the circle for the Phoenix tossing a complete game shutout. She scattered five hits over 10 innings without issuing a walk and struck out eight. She faced just three batters over the minimum and fired 81 strikes in 122 pitches to improve her record to 5-1 on the season.

Freshman Alex Casanas and sophomore Emily Sargent split the game in the circle for the Blue Devils. Casanas pitched the first three innings for CCSU and allowed just one hit. Sargent came on in relief and was equally as effective, twirling the final 6.1 innings, but was dealt the loss. She surrendered one run on five hits and a walk, while striking out three to fall to 4-2 on the year.

The Blue Devils had five hits in the loss. Purcell led the way at the plate finishing 2-for-4 with a double. Sophomore's Brittany McNulla and Alexis Debrosse each had a single and freshman Kaitlin Paterson also added a single as they all finished 1-for-4.

Hoover paced Elon who had six hits in the win. She finished 2-for-4 with pair of singles and the game-winning RBI.

The CCSU softball team will return to action next weekend as they travel to the College of Charleston Invitational. They will open up play against UConn on Friday at 1 p.m. and then play Eastern Michigan later that day at 5:30 p.m.