Softball Comfortably Wins Both Games Against Bryant on Friday

The Central Connecticut State University softball team continued to dominate in Northeast Conference play with two wins over Bryant on Friday. The Blue Devils scored 19 runs in 10 innings and collected 18 total hits. Central did not allow a run in the two games, and gave up a combined four hits. The two wins bumped CCSU up to 12-5 overall and 10-0 in NEC play, the best conference record since 2013.

GAME ONE

Score: Central Connecticut 9, Bryant 0

Records: CCSU (11-5, 9-0 NEC), Bryant (2-10, 1-7 NEC)

Location: CCSU Softball Field | New Britain, CT

Pitching Records: W: Houghton (3-1) | L: Kenney (2-3) | Sv: --

KEY MOMENTS

• The Blue Devils attacked in the first inning, after Carli Backlund roped a double to right center and Kaitlin Paterson singled her in. CCSU led 1-0 after one.

• Freshman Paige Stringer continued to be a force at the plate, hitting a RBI single to score Backlund in the third inning. She then drove in two more runs in the fourth inning, giving Central a 5-0 advantage. Stringer finished the game going 3-3 with 3 runs batted in.

• Central exploded in the fifth, scoring four runs to end the ball game. Kim Howard led off the inning with a home run to left field. Freshman Brooke Fedison followed her with a line-drive home run over the center fielder's head. Finally, catcher Rian Eigenmann ended the game with a long two-run blast to left field. 

• Kate Houghton earned the win for CCSU, dealing 5 innings and striking out two batters. The freshman earned her third win of the season.

GAME TWO

Score: Central Connecticut 10, Bryant 0

Records: CCSU (12-5, 10-0 NEC), Bryant (2-11, 1-8 NEC)

Location: CCSU Softball Field | New Britain, CT

Pitching Record: W: Whittaker (3-1) | L: Bodington (2-6) | Sv: --

KEY MOMENTS

• Central once again got off to a commanding start, with Kaitlin Paterson crushing a three-run home run in the first inning. It was the second home run of the season for Paterson, who is now hitting .375 in the season. 

• The Blue Devils added one more run in the first, after Brooke Fedison hit a sacrifice fly scoring Paige Stringer. Central led 4-0 after one.

• Sophomore Meg Gorman kept the bats hot for CCSU hitting a double down the left field line and scoring two runners in the third inning. Shortstop Carli Backlund stepped up to the plate and hit a grand slam to deep left field and gave CCSU a 10-0 edge. Backlund went 1-2 with a walk and 4 RBI's in game two.

• Kaylee Whittaker pitched lights out for CCSU, going all five innings and allowing just one hit. The sophomore struck out six batters and picked up her third win.

UP NEXT

The two teams meet again tomorrow for a double header starting at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm.