Softball Splits With Fairfield on Wednesday

The Central Connecticut softball team split a doubleheader with Fairfield on Wednesday afternoon. The Blue Devils improve their record to 22-19-1 on the season. Central dropped game one 7-1 before rebounding for a 4-3 game two victory. Sophomore Kelsey Barlow went three-for-three in the first game and sophomore Stephanie Chotkevys went for three-for-three in game two.

Game One

The Blue Devils grabbed an early lead in the top of the first. Freshman Arielle Bruno led off the inning with a walk and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Rebecca Mussatti. Barlow then registered her first hit of the game, a single up the middle to drive Bruno home.

The Stags responded with a three run outburst in the bottom of the first. Freshman Julie Marks surrendered three runs on four hits in the opening inning. Marks went the distance in the loss. She surrendered seven runs on 11 hits, over six innings in the loss. Her record drops to 5-4 on the season after the defeat.

Central rallied a couple of times with a pair of hits in the third and fourth innings. Sophomore Macy Stefanski had a pair of hits to join Barlow with a multiple hit game.

Game Two

The Blue Devils rebounded for a 4-3 win in the second game. Bruno and Mussatti singled to lead off the game. Following a sacrifice bunt, Stefanski singled to drive in Bruno. Mussatti then scored as Stefanski was caught stealing second.

The Blue Devils tacked on another run in the second inning to take a 3-0 lead. Chotkevys doubled to lead off the inning and then after moving to third on a single by senior Katherine Knowles, she scored on an RBI ground out by senior Kendall Sours.

Central was held scoreless in the top of the third inning, but Fairfield tied the game in their half of the frame. The Stags scored three runs off of senior Elizabeth Montemurro. Only one of the runs against her was earned as a Central error lead to a pair of the Stags scores.

After a scoreless fourth, Central posted a go-ahead run in the fifth inning without recording a hit. After a leadoff error the Blue Devils manufactured a run with a sacrifice and a ground out.

With a 4-3 lead Coach Franquet went to his bullpen and called on sophomore Jordan Tingley. She allowed only two hits and no runs in the final three innings to pick up a save for the Blue Devils.

Montemurro earned the victory to improve to 8-6 on the season. She allowed five hits and only one earned run in her four innings of work.

Chotkevys finished the game with three hits. Senior Amanda Dilworth, Stefanski and Sours each picked up and RBI in the game.

The Blue Devils return to action with a pair of NEC doubleheaders this weekend. Saturday they play at Monmouth and Sunday at Mount St. Mary's.