CCSU Splits Season-Ending Doubleheader, Brenneman Throws Complete Game Three-Hitter in Win

Playing its final scheduled doubleheader of the season, Central Connecticut (9-34) split a pair of non-conference games at Hartford (19-20). The Blue Devils, who were playing as the home team, dropped a 3-2 decision in game one and won, 3-1, in game two. Senior Rachel Brenneman threw a complete game three-hitter with a season-high nine strikeouts in the win. Sophomore Katherine Knowles went 3-for-3 with two doubles, and junior Sara Budrick drove in a pair of runs. Sophomore Kendall Sours added an RBI single. Junior Jaclyn Logan had a two-run double in the opener. Budrick added a triple in the defeat.

The Blue Devils, who had two aboard in the bottom of the first but didn't plate a run, took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning of the second game. Knowles led off with a double, moved to third on a sac bunt and scored on a Budrick sacrifice fly to right field. Brenneman retired eight straight batters to start the game and, after allowing a single to senior Kayla Demarest, set down the next eight. Demarest, who had two of Hartford's three hits, broke up the string again with her second single.

Central Connecticut added runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Senior Jenna Earley walked with one out and stole second with two down in the fifth. Sours drove her in with a single to left field. Knowles had her second lead-off double in the sixth. She again moved up on a sac bunt, and Budrick drove her in with a single to center.

Hartford cut into the lead in the top of the seventh inning. Senior Amanda Sais reached on an error to start the inning. She moved up on a walk and scored on an RBI single by junior Rachel Clonick. Brenneman registered back-to-back strikeouts to seal the win.

In addition to her performance on the mound, Brenneman singled in the victory. Freshman Siera Sheehan went the distance on the mound for Hartford. She surrendered the three runs on five hits while striking out one.

The opening game was scoreless until the sixth inning. CCSU freshman starter Abby Harpp had scattered four hits before loading the bases with two outs in the sixth. Hawk junior Ann Kyzer started the two-out rally with a single up the middle. Senior Kristen Cericola followed with another single through the middle, and Clonick walked to load the bases. A passed ball scored the first run, and junior Olivia Piacentini drove in the next two with a double to left center. Brenneman relieved Harpp to record the final out. Budrick tripled with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, but freshman Joanna Barry flied out to center to end the inning.

Central Connecticut cut the margin to 3-2 with two outs in the seventh. Earley drew a one-out walk and, following a strikeout, moved to second on a fielder's choice. Sophomore Kendall Sours was safe on the play. Logan drove both Earley and Sours in with a double off the base of the wall in center. However, Logan didn't advance from there. Knowles struck out swinging to end the game.

Earley, Sours and Knowles each singled in the loss. Harpp gave up three runs, one earned, on seven hits in 5.2 innings. She struck out three. Junior Brittney Stratton pitched the complete game shutout for Hartford. She allowed five hits and fanned nine. Piacentini and Cericola, who doubled in the second inning, each had two hits for the Hawks.

Central Connecticut ended its season at 9-34 overall and 3-13 in Northeast Conference play.