Blue Devils Stopped by Eastern Illinois 5-2
Central plays Seton Hall tonight at 6 p.m. in the USF Tournament.
In the first of two games on the second day of the USF Showcase Tournament, Central Connecticut softball fell to Eastern Illinois 5-2 earlier today. Central is now 4-3 on the season and Eastern Illinois improves to 5-15 overall.
After the first inning, the game was tied 1-1. With a runner on second, Breya Cooper hit a double to left center recording an RBI her first at bat for Eastern Illinois. For CCSU, freshman Rian Eigenmann was hit by the pitch then stole second base. Freshman Carli Backlund walked on her first at bat and both runners advanced to second and third on a punt by senior Kaitlin Paterson. After sophomore Sydney Bolan was hit by a pitch the bases were loaded for junior Sarah Ogilvie who walked allowing Eigenmann to score the first run for the Blue Devils.
In the top of the third, Central allowed no runs or hits and had no errors. Bolan had an RBI with a single to left center allowing Paterson to score giving the Blue Devils a 2-1 lead going into the fourth inning.
Eastern Illinois tied the game 2-2 in the top of the fifth with a RBI single up the right sideline by Hannah Cravens. The Panthers took the lead in the sixth with a two-run homer by Mia Davis putting Eastern Illinois ahead 4-2. The Panthers scored their final run in the top of the seventh with a single by Mady Poulter.
Central finished with two hits and two RBIs. Kari Marks pitched the first four innings allowing six hits and two runs. She had two errors and struck out two batters. Ashley Antonazzo finished the game allowing six hits, three runs with one strikeout and three errors.
