Softball Sweeps Norfolk State For Best Start in Division I Program History
The Central Connecticut softball team etched itself into the history books after two wins over Norfolk State on Friday. With 5-1 and 4-1 win victories, The Blue Devils 2024 squad has the best start in program history at 8-0.
Kaylee Whittaker had another dominant performance for The Blue Devils as they came away with two wins to start their 5 game road skid in Virginia. Skyler Warn and Ava Cino were both 2-for-3 in game one. Paige Stringer hit her 5th home run of the year. Cino was 3-for-4 in game two and leads the Blue Devils hitting .571 with 14 hits this year.
GAME INFORMATION
SCORES:
Game One - CCSU 5, NSU 1
Game Two – CCSU 4, NSU 1
LOCATION: Norfolk, VA | NSU Softball Field
RECORDS: CCSU (8-0), NSU (0-14)
KEY MOMENTS – GAME ONE
- BOTTOM 3RD: Norfolk State scored first after Victoria Taylor scored on a fielding error on the Blue Devils. Emory Shorts advanced to third; Victoria Taylor scored on a fielding error by p, unearned. 0 - 1
- TOP 4TH: Paige Stringer homered to right center with nobody on to tie the game 1 - 1.
- TOP 5TH: Brooke Fedison reached first on a throwing error by the NSU second baseman. Pinch runner Emma Henry scored on the error and CCSU led 2-1 after 5.
- TOP 7TH: Skylar Warn singled to left center to bring home Ashlyn Desaulniers. With the bases loaded Meg Gorman grounded out to second, but scored Jazmine Lasane to push CCSUs lead to 4-1. Central took a 5-1 lead after Brooke Fedison scored on a wild pitch.
- BOTTOM 7TH: Kaylee Whittaker worked another no-hitter through 6.1 innings, but an infield base hit beat out by leadoff hitter Rylie Gilbreath broke up the no-no. Gilbreath was thrown out at second after trying to advance on an overthrow. Whittaker struck out her tenth batter to close the door on Norfolk State and secure a 5-1 win.
KEY MOMENTS – GAME TWO
- TOP 1ST: KC Machado gave CCSU a 1-0 lead after reaching on on a fielder's choice bringing home Ashlyn Desaulniers.
- TOP 2ND: Meg Gorman singled to third base for an RBI that gave Central a 2-0 lead. Ashlyn Desaulniers reached on a fielding error by the second baseman and Kendall Lamorte scored to add to The Blue Devils lead (3-0).
- TOP 3RD: CCSU took a 5-0 lead when Sophia LoPiccolo reached on an error to bring home Ava Cino.
- BOTTOM 3RD: Norfolk scored a run when Emory Shorts reached on an error to score and cut Centrals lead to 5-1 after three.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
8 - With wins over Saint Peters (4), Holy Cross (2), and Norfolk State (2) The Blue Devils are 8-0 for the first time in Division I program history.
35 - Kaylee Whittaker passed Lori Frederick for third all-time in wins with 35 after her victory Friday afternoon.
1 - Adrianna Green tallied her first collegiate win with 4.1 innings zero earned runs and two strikeouts. Hamilton finished the game with 2.2 scoreless innings.
UP NEXT
Central will play one game at Hampton University vs Marist on Saturday at 2:30. They will then play a doubleheader on Sunday vs Hampton and Holy Cross starting at 10:30.