Blue Devils Open 2025 Home Softball Slate With A Pair Of Losses To Iona

The Central Connecticut State softball team opened its 2025 home schedule with a non-conference doubleheader against the Iona University Gaels on a windy and chilly Friday afternoon in the Hardware City, and the Blue Devils fell in both games, as the visitors took game one, 8-0, and completed the sweep with a 7-3 win in the nightcap.  CCSU is now 0-7 on the young campaign; while Iona moves to 3-7 overall

GAME ONE INFORMATION |BOX SCORE

Score:  Iona 8, CCSU 0
Records: CCSU (0-6, 0-0 NEC), Iona (2-7, 0-0 MAAC)
Location: CCSU Softball Field |New Britain, Conn.

GAME TWO INFORMATION |BOX SCORE

Score:  Iona 7, CCSU 3
Records: CCSU (0-7, 0-0 NEC), Iona (3-7, 0-0 MAAC)
Location: CCSU Softball Field |New Britain, Conn.

KEY MOMENTS FROM GAME ONE:

• After a scoreless first two innings, Iona plated three runs in the third inning and never looked back on the way to the win in Friday's opener.
• The Gaels added single runs in the fourth and fifth and three more in the seventh.
• Iona's Samantha Rieb held the Blue Devils hitless until the sixth inning when Ashlyn Desauliners beat out an infield single to shortstop.
• Rieb, who is now 2-3 on the season, fired a three-hit shutout in Friday's first game with nine strikeouts and three walks.
• CCSU tried to end Rieb's shutout in the bottom of the seventh when, with one out, pinch hitters Ashley Viesta and  Matison Piripavel, doubled and singled, but Jazmin Lasane lined into a double play to end the game.
• In the pitching circle, Liz Hamilton (0-2) worked a complete game for Central, in which she allowed eight hits, eight runs (five earned) with eight strikeouts and only one base on balls.

KEY MOMENTS FROM GAME TWO:

• The Blue Devils got off to a 2-0 lead in the nightcap on a second inning RBI-single by Joslyn Teal and a two-out RBI base knock in the third by Ashley Viesta that scored pinch runner Drianna Pena.
• The Gaels would come back to score four runs in the top of the fourth and then add three more tallies in the fifth to take a 7-2 lead.
• Ashley Viesta would drive in her second run of the game on a double in the sixth inning to complete all the scoring in the nightcap.
• Viesta went 2-for-3 in the nightcap to give her three hits on the afternoon, as well as two runs batted in.
• Sophia LoPiccolo also had double in game two, as part of a seven hit Central attack on offense.
• Adrianna Green (0-2) started the nightcap for the Blue Devils and worked six innings in which she allowed eight hits, seven runs (five earned) with three K's and three walks.
• Freshman Gracie Granate made her collegiate debut on Friday working a scoreless seventh inning to finish game two, as she fanned one batter and allowed one hit and a walk.

UP NEXT

• The same two teams will meet again on Saturday for another doubleheader hosted by the Blue Devils beginning at 12 noon.