Extra Base Hits Lead Softball To 10-1 Victory

The Central Connecticut State softball team improved to 7-0 in NEC play with a 10-1 win over league visitor Mercyhurst on Saturday afternoon.  

For the fourth time in league play the Blue Devils reached double digits in runs, accomplishing the feat on nine hits and four walks on Saturday. Grace Lawton and Reagan Vunak both had two hits, with Lawton leaving the yard to finish 2-2 at the plate. 

Liz Hamilton fanned seven batters and allowed one run on four hits to improve to 8-1 on the season. 

GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE 

Score: CCSU 10, Mercyhurst 1 (5 innings) 
Pitching Records: W: Hamilton (8-1) | L: North (0-7) | Save - - 
Team Records: CCSU (12-9; 7-0 NEC), Mercyhurst (2-17; 1-3 NEC) 
Location: CCSU Softball Field | New Britain, CT 

KEY MOMENTS 

• After Hamilton retired the Lakers in order in the top of the first, the Blue Devils sent 12 batters to the plate in their first plate appearances. Ashlyn Desaulniers reached on an error to shortstop that saw her on second base from the leadoff spot. Vunak followed with a double to center field that out CCSU on top 1-0. After a flyout, Lawton hit a line drive to center field that cleared the fence for the 3-0 advantage. The next three Blue Devils reached base. Stella Gasper scored on a passed ball, Sophia LoPiccolo on a wild pitch and Skylar Warn on an infield fielder's choice from Desaulniers to make it 6-0. 

• After Hamilton fanned the side in the top of the inning, around one walk, Lawton homered to lead off the bottom half of the inning for a 7-0 lead. 

• The Lakers built a run in the top of the third as Shailene Riemedio worked a one-out walk and after another Hamilton strikeout, Mercyhurst strung consecutive singles together to bring her home. 

• Three straight hits to open the home portion of the third produced two more CCSU runs. Kristina Bozek doubled down the left field line to leadoff and scored when Desaulniers followed with a triple to the fence in center field. Vunak followed with a single to plate her and gave the Blue Devils a 9-1 advantage. 

• Hamilton worked around a leadoff single to keep the margin eight in the top of the fourth. Warn added a run for the Blue Devils with a sacrifice fly that plated LoPiccolo, who reached on a leadoff error. Hamilton allowed a two-out double in the top of the fifth before inducing a game-ending pop up. 

NOTES 

• Seven Blue Devils recorded a hit, seven scored a run and four had RBI in the win 

• Six of the nine hits for CCSU were for extra bases 

• DeSaulniers was 1-3 with two RBI and two runs scored 

• LoPiccolo and Lawton both scored twice and  

• Five of the seven NEC wins for CCSU have been in run-rule fashion 

UP NEXT 

• The Blue Devils will host Mercyhurst in a doubleheader on Sunday, with first pitch slated for 11:00 am