Softball Opens Conference Season with Doubleheader Sweep at FDU, Blue Devils Win 5-2 and 3-1

Central Connecticut (6-13, 2-0) opened the Northeast Conference season with a pair of victories at Fairleigh Dickinson (4-18, 0-2). Senior Rachel Brenneman picked up her second win of the season with a complete game performance in a 5-2 opening win against the Knights. She scattered 11 hits and struck out five in the effort. Junior Jaclyn Logan led the offense with a 2-for-4 day at the plate. She drove in three runs. The Blue Devils won, 3-1, in game two. Sophomore Elizabeth Montemurro picked up her fourth victory on the year, throwing a complete game five-hitter. Sophomore Kendall Sours went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the win.

In game one, the Blue Devils plated two runs in the top of the first to take a lead they would not relinquish. Junior Tiffany Erickson led the game off with an infield single. She moved to second on an infield single by Sours and scored the game's first run on a fielder's choice. Logan had the RBI. Sophomore Katherine Knowles, who had walked prior to the RBI fielder's choice, put CCSU ahead 2-0 when she scored on a FDU error.

Central Connecticut added to its lead in the fourth inning. Freshman Joanna Barry doubled to left field and moved to third on a single by senior Jenna Earley. Logan drove in both with a double to left center. Fairleigh Dickinson scored its only two runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Knights threatened in the seventh inning. They had two on, but Brenneman ended the game with her fifth strikeout.

Freshman Caitlin Bradac pitched four innings, allowing five runs on six hits, in the loss. Junior Trina Fields worked three innings of hitless ball in relief. Sophomore Brittany Sheppard led the Knight offense with a 3-for-4 effort.

Fairleigh Dickinson took a 1-0 lead in the second inning of game two. The Knights manufactured the score with a double, sacrifice bunt and RBI bunt single. Central Connecticut tied the game in the top of the third inning. Earley drew a walk and moved to second on an Erickson single. Sours then drove Earley in with a double.

The Blue Devils added the game's final two runs in the fifth inning. Freshman Samantha Cieri got on with a single before being replaced at first by a fielder's choice by Earley. Erickson walked to put CCSU runners on first and second. Both scored on a Knight error.

Montemurro did not allow a hit over the final three innings to secure the Blue Devil win. Freshman Kirsten Shrove took the loss for FDU. She allowed three runs, one earned, on four hits over seven innings.

Central Connecticut will be back in action tomorrow. The Blue Devils face Sacred Heart in more NEC doubleheader play beginning at noon.