Softball Drops NEC Opener to RMU Saturday
Central hosts Saint Francis for a pair of games on Sunday in New Britain.
The Central Connecticut softball team dropped a pair of games to Northeast Conference opponent Robert Morris on Saturday afternoon. The teams falls to 11-12 overall and 0-2 in league play, as the Colonials improve to 8-21 and 2-0 in the conference. CCSU hosts Saint Francis U for a double-header on Sunday.
GAME ONE
The Blue Devils lost the first game 5-2 giving up all five runs in the second inning. After no hits or errors from either team in the first inning, the Colonials got on the board big in the second starting with a home run by Abrielle McCartney. With a runner on first and second, Kaitlyn Clark recorded an RBI with a hit into the outfield, putting RMU up 2-0 with just one out.
The next batter was hit by a pitch making the bases loaded for the Colonials. Another single-RBI, this time from Erika Bell, allowed two runs to score, one off an error by the Blue Devils. Now leading 4-0, still with runners on first and third, Ashley Kent hit a double sending Brittany Seibert across home plate before Central got its third out.
Central went scoreless and had just three hits on the game before sopohomore Sydney Bolan hit a home run to open the bottom of the sixth inning cutting into the lead 5-1. Junior Guiliana Hathaway walked, but the next three batters for Central all grounded out before sending her home. CCSU scored its final run in the bottom of the seventh. Freshman Carli Backlund doubled and was able to score a run off a single by classmate Alexa Milius.
Rookie Carley Stoker pitched all seven innings for Central and is now 4-5 on the season at the mound. She threw two strike outs, walked one batter, and allowed five hits.
GAME TWO
Field play picked up in game two as only two hits total were allowed until the fourth inning. The only runs of the game came in the top of the fourth. Robert Morris had runners on second and third with two outs. Madison Shiderly hit one deep into centerfield for a double-RBI.
Central fought hard to the end giving a solid effort in the top of the seventh to not give up any runs, despite the Colonials having three hits. RMU had the bases loaded with no outs and on back to back plays Central got out the runner trying to reach home plate. On a bunt, pitcher Ashley Antonazzo rushed to the ball getting it to Rian Eigenmann before the runner could score. On the next play, Backlund ripped a ground ball to Eigenmann for another out.
Robert Morris would go onto win game two 2-0 as Central had just four hits on the game. At the mound, Antonazzo pitched all seven innings allowing just eight hits and two runs. She had two strikeouts and just two errors and is now 6-4 on the season.