Machado’s Grand Slam Propels Blue Devils to NEC Semifinals
The Central Connecticut softball team beat the number two-seeded LIU Sharks with four longballs with two coming from NEC first-teamer Kassandra (KC) Machado.
The Central Connecticut softball team beat the number two-seeded LIU Sharks with four long balls with two coming from NEC first-teamer Kassandra (KC) Machado.
Liz Hamilton (11-5) earned her 11th win of the season giving up four earned runs in three innings pitched for her team. Both teams lived on the long ball with all but three combined 21 runs in the game coming from home runs. Adrianna Green finished the game for Central with two innings pitched and a strikeout to end the game. KC Machado led Central with two moon shots, including a back-breaking grand slam. Ashlyn Desaulniers and Ava Cino also homered for Central Connecticut in the victory.
Alyssa O'Donnell (11-7) suffered her seventh loss of the season, giving up four hits and five earned runs in three innings. LIU ace, Lindsay Cowans gave up seven runs in two innings of work for The Sharks. Kira Buckner finished the game with two scoreless innings. Gabby Padilla and Mari Narvaiz homered and combined for six hits and seven RBIs, but it was not enough to get past a hot Blue Devil squad.
GAME INFORMATION
SCORE: CCSU 12, LIU 9
LOCATION: Loretto, PA | Red Flash Softball Field
RECORDS: CCSU (27-18), LIU (32-21)
KEY MOMENTS:
TOP 1ST: Meg Gorman set the tone with a single in the five-six hole to start the game. KC Machado cleared the left-field fence with her second home run of the tournament to give Central an early 2-0 lead.
BOTTOM 2ND: Mari Narvaiz answered with a long ball of her own and LIU trailed just 2-to-1.
BOTTOM 3RD: Lily Hinkle singled up the middle and Gabby Padilla blasted a homerun, quickly giving LIU a 3-2 lead. Paige Stringer fielded a ground ball and completed the force out at home with the bases loaded, but an extra throw from Vunak to first led to Padilla taking an extra base and scoring from second to extend The Shark's lead to 4-2.
TOP 4TH: KC Machado drew a walk to begin the inning. Ava Cino effortlessly blasted a homerun to right field to tie things up at four. Grace Lawton and Jazmine Lasane each followed with a singles to bring up Skyler Warn with nobody out. Warn laced a single up the middle to score pinch runner Emma Henry to give The Blue Devils a 5-4 lead. Reagan Vunak grounded a fielder's choice to shortstop allowing Lasane to score. Ashlyn Desaulniers singled and Paige Stringer was hit by a pitch to load the bases for KC Machado. Machado sent a 3-2 pitch over the bleachers in left field to blow the game wide open with a 10-4 advantage favoring The Blue Devils.
BOTTOM 4TH: Kaylee Clarkson cut into the Blue Devils lead with a home run to left (10-5).
TOP 6TH: Meg Gorman singled to lead off the inning and Ashlyn Desaulniers followed with another Blue Devil home run to give them their largest lead of the day (12-5).
BOTTOM 6TH: LIU scored three runs on two hits and an error by Central, but still trailed 12-8.
BOTTOM 7TH: Gabby Padilla blasted a solo shot to left field to plate The Shark's final run of the game (12-9).
NUMBERS TO KNOW
12 - Kassandra (KC) Machado tied the single-season homerun record held by her teammate Paige Stringer after she blasted her eleventh and twelfth home runs of the year today.
NOTES:
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The Sharks lead the all-time series 40-13 against The Blue Devils with Central Connecticut's last victory against The Sharks coming in April of 2023.
UP NEXT..
The Blue Devils will face the #3 Sacred Heart in the semifinals tomorrow at 10:00.
