Jaspers Outlast Blue Devils Wednesday Afternoon

The Central Connecticut softball team dropped a pair of games on Wednesday afternoon to Manhattan. The Blue Devils took the Jaspers to nine innings in the first game but came up short 6-5. Game two was also close and the Jaspers prevailed 3-2. Central now has an overall record of 5-6.

GAME ONE

As the first batter at the plate, freshman Rian Eigenmann started Central off strong with a homer to left center field to open the game.

In the top of the second, the Blue Devils scored three more runs to extend the early lead 4-0. After being walked to first and advancing to second on a wild pitch, freshman Carli Backlund reached third base on a ground ball by junior Sarah Ogilvie. Sophomore Jade Warner had a single-RBI to right field allowing Backlund to hit home. At her first at bat, junior Alicia Bertolino cracked the ball for a two-run homer before the Jaspers closed the half inning with two more outs.

In the first three innings, Central allowed just one hit by Manhattan and rookie Carly Stoker threw three strike outs. Backlund had a single homerun to open the fourth inning putting the Blue Devils ahead 5-0, which would be the last run Central would score in game one.

The Jaspers cut into the CCSU lead first with one run in the bottom of the fourth off a sacrificed fly ball. Central had three straight outs to open the fifth and Manhattan shortened the lead 5-3 capitalizing on loaded bases with a double-RBI hit to centerfield. 

With a two run lead going into the seventh, the Jaspers allowed no hits or runs for the Blue Devils. Manhattan had runners on second and third and tied the game 5-5 with a hit to left field allowing both runners to score. Manhattan would go onto win the game 6-5 in the ninth inning off a single-RBI hit to left field.

Bertolino finished with two RBIs, one run, and one hit on three at bats. Eigenmann totaled one RBI, one run, and one hit on her three at bats. In seven innings, Stoker allowed seven runs, four hits, and threw five strike outs. Sophomore Ashley Antonazzo pitched one inning allowing three hits, two runs, and struck out one batter.

GAME TWO

Central scored the first run of the game in the top of the second inning. Junior Sarah Olgilvie was on third base when freshman Alexa Milius had a single-RBI knocking the ball to right field putting CCSU on the board 1-0.

In the bottom of the third, the Jaspers had the bases loaded and a ground ball to first base allowed the runner on third to score and tie the game 1-1.

The fourth inning was scoreless for both teams, but in the bottom of fifth Manhattan connected on back to back batters hitting two RBIs for the Jaspers to take a 3-1 lead.

Central rallied back in the sixth with a home run by sophomore Sydney Bolan and forcing three straight outs for Manhattan. Going into the top of the seventh down 3-2, Central got a runner to second base but got its third out before she could reach home and the Jaspers walked away with a 3-2 win.

Freshman Kari Marks pitched all six innings for the Blue Devils allowing five hits and three runs. She threw one strike out and had just three errors for the game.