Blue Devils Rally To Take Game One, 6-5, But Fall In Game Two, 8-1, At LIU

The Central Connecticut State softball team came back from being down 5-0 in the bottom of the second inning to take the opening game of a Northeast Conference doubleheader at LIU on Friday afternoon, 6-5.  CCSU's rally was capped off by a two-out, three-run homer by Ashlyn Desaulniers in the top of the sixth inning.  The hosts would regroup to earn a spilt with an 8-1 win in the nightcap.  With the spilt, the Blue Devils head into their 2025 regular season finale on Sunday at 19-27 overall and 13-7 in conference play.  LIU is now 23-20 overall and 15-5 in the NEC.

Game One vs. LIU| BOX SCORE

Score:  CCSU 6, LIU 5
Records: CCSU (19-26, 13-6 NEC), LIU (22-20, 14-5 NEC)
Location: LIU Softball Complex|Brooklyn, N.Y.

Game Two vs. LIU| BOX SCORE

Score: LIU 8, CCSU 1
Records: CCSU (19-27, 13-7 NEC), LIU (23-20, 15-5 NEC)
Location: LIU Softball Complex|Brooklyn, N.Y.

KEY MOMENTS FROM FRIDAY'S OPENING VICTORY:

• The host Sharks scored five runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 5-0, but the Blue Devils would battle all the way back to earn the win in game one.
• Central started its comeback by scoring three runs in the top of the fourth inning when Kassandra (KC) Machado launched long ball number 12 of 2025, tying her record mark of last season, with Reagan Vunak on after a single.  CCSU would score one more run in the frame on an RBI-fielder's choice by Joslyn Teal to make the score 5-3 in favor of the hosts.
• The score would stay 5-3 in favor of LIU until the top of the sixth inning when Ashlyn Desaulniers smacked a two-out three-run homer to give the Blue Devils a 6-5 advantage which they held onto to pick up the victory.  Desaulniers now has four home runs this season.
• As a team, CCSU had nine hits in the win in Friday's opener led by a 3-for-3 game from Grace Lawton, and two hits apiece from Reagan Vunak and Skylar Warn.
• Alina Varga (6-13) was outstanding in the circle to earn the game one win on Friday, as fired a three-hit complete game in which she allowed only three earned runs with five strikeouts and four bases on balls.

KEY MOMENTS FROM FRIDAY'S GAME TWO ACTION:

• The Blue Devils jumped in front 1-0 in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly by Kassandra (KC) Machado that scored Ashlyn Desaulniers from third base after she led the game off with a single and moved to third on a double by Reagan Vunak.
• LIU tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the second on their own sacrifice fly.
• The Sharks would grab a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning on a two-out, two-run single.
• CCSU had a big chance to score in the top of the fourth when the Blue Devils loaded the bases with no outs, but Central could not push any runners across the plate in the frame.
• LIU tacked on two more runs on a two-RBI double in the fourth to make the score 5-1 in favor of the host Sharks.
• The hosts added three runs in the fifth inning to increase their advantage to 8-1.
• CCSU was limited to only four hits in game two; a double by Reagan Vunak and singles by Ashlyn Desaulniers, Ava Cino and Abby Meehan.
• Liz Hamilton (12-6) took the loss in game two, as she worked a complete game in which she fanned four and did not allow a free pass.

UP NEXT:

• The Blue Devils and the Sharks will close out the 2025 regular season with a single game on Sunday in Brooklyn at 12 noon.  CCSU has already earned a spot in the 2025 Northeast Conference Championship Tournament that is slated to begin on May 8.