Softball Comes From Behind in Last Inning to Win 6-4, Splits Doubleheader at Wagner

The Central Connecticut softball team split a pair of games at Wagner on Monday, April 2. Central won the first game 6-4 after a four-run seventh inning rally to win its first Northeast Conference game of the 2017 season. Wagner outlasted the Blue Devils 9-6 in game two in Staten Island, N.Y.

In CCSU's come from behind victory, junior Brittany Camara rocketed a two-run triple to right center that captured the win. Camara totalled three hits, three runs, and two RBI's. Junior Alexis Debrosse went 4-for-8 (.500) at the plate with two RBI's and also scored three times through both games for the Blue Devils. 

CCSU moves to 5-15 on the season and 1-3 in the NEC, while Wagner is now 7-16 overall and starts 1-1 in the conference.

GAME ONE

Debrosse began the game with a lead off single past Wagner's second baseman, and then advanced into scoring position with her third stolen base of the season. After moving to third on a grounder from junior starting catcher, Brittany McNulla, sophomore Kerri Dadalski sent Debrosse home with a single up the middle that gave CCSU the early 1-0 lead.

Wagner responded in the bottom half of the first with three runs on two hits, after the Seahawks loaded the bases on a hit by pitch and a pair of walks. Up 3-1, Wagner tacked on another run in the bottom of the second inning.

In the top of the fourth, CCSU freshman Sarah Ogilvie reached first on a fielder's choice, followed by sophomore Kaitlin Paterson who fired a single to center. Ogilvie hustled her way home after the Seahawks committed an error on the following play to make the score 4-2.

Central's Dadalski snagged another single, and Ogilvie smacked a double to right center in the top of the sixth. Wagner opted to swap McKaleigh Goodale for Morgan Brown at the mound with Paterson at the plate. Paterson hit to second, and McNulla was thrown out at home, ending the scoring opportunity.

Now facing their third pitcher of the game, the Blue Devils took off on a four-run seventh inning rally as they stole game one from Wagner. With the bases jacked and no outs, Debrosse knocked in an RBI single to left center. Camara then gave Central the 6-4 with a triple to right center that sent Debrosse and rookie Emily Cronin home.

The CCSU defense retired the Seahawk's five, six, seven batters in order to seal the victory.

Game Two

Central picked up right where it left off in the second game with Debrosse and Camara singling to left and right field, respectively. Debrosse scored on a groundout play from McNulla, and Ogilvie launched an RBI double to left field scoring Camara from second base.

Wagner answered the call with two runs of its own in the bottom of the first. The Blue Devils continued to have success in the third inning against the opposing pitcher, Amelia Van Orman, as Camara, Dadalski, freshman Alicia Bertolino, and Constantin all collected singles as CCSU took a 5-2 lead.

The back-and-forth momentum resumed in the bottom half of the third with three runs on three hits from the top of the Seahawk lineup, to knot the score at 5-5. Wagner added two more in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-5 lead over the Blue Devils.

Now up against Wagner pitcher Gina Massaro, Debrosse delivered her second hit of the day with an RBI single up the middle that scored Paterson from second base.

Down one run, Ogilvie replaced Sargent in the bottom of the fifth inning and silenced Seahawks three-up, three-down. Wagner then took a 9-6 lead off of four hits including a solo home run from Karen Prihoda in its last at bats.

Junior Emily Sargent started both games for CCSU, and pitched 11 innings for Central. Sargent moves her pitching record to 4-10 on the season.

The Blue Devils will take the field again tomorrow afternoon for a make-up game at Boston College. The contest will begin at 4:00 p.m. at Shea Softball Field in Chesnut Hill, M.A.