Cino Hits Two Homers to Drive Softball by Stonehill

The Central Connecticut State softball team completed a three-game NEC series sweep at Stonehill with a 6-3 win on Thursday in Easton, MA. The Blue Devils have won five straight in NEC play

Liz Hamilton tossed a complete game to earn third win of the series, while Ava Cino hit a pair of homeruns and drove in four runs in the game.

GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE
Score: CCSU 6, Stonehill 3
Pitching Record: W:  Hamilton (11-3) | L:  Sullivan (3-6)  | Save - -
Records: CCSU (18-13, 13-2 NEC), Stonehill (6-27, 3-9 NEC)
Location: Fr. Gartland Field | Easton, MA

KEY MOMENTS

• CCSU scored two runs in the first inning. Ashlyn Desaulniers drew a leadoff walkand scored two batters later following a homerun by Ava Cino.
• Stonehill would load the bases with no outs in the first inning. Haleigh Reed hit a sacrifice fly to drive in a run. Another walk would load the bases with one out, but a pair of strikeouts by Liz Hamilton would end the inning and avoid further damage.
• Central added to its lead in the fifth inning following a leadoff double by Desaulniers. She came home to make it 3-1 following a single by Reagan Vunak.
• The Skyhawks got a run back in the bottom of the fifth. Harper Sullivan hit a solo homer to right field to cut the lead to 3-2. Reed followed with a double and moved to third base on a groundout, but she was left stranded following an inning-ending groundout.
• Stella Gasper drew a leadoff walk in the sixth and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before being lifted for a pinch-runner. Sophia LoPiccolo would drive in Abigail Mitchell with a double down the line in left to push the lead to 4-2.
• Central padded its lead in the top of the seventh. With a runner on first, Cino would hit her second homerun of the day to push the lead to 6-2.
• The first two batters for Stonehill would reach base in the seventh inning and a sacrifice fly scored one run, but Hamilton would get a line drive to end the game.

NOTES

• Cino was 2-for-3 with four RBIs. In the series, she hit 4-for-10 with three homeruns and nine RBIs.
• Hamilton threw a complete-game and chalked up three strikeouts. In the series, she was 3-0 with a 1.87 ERA and seven strikeouts.
• LoPiccolo and Kristina Bozek each added two hits.
• Desaulniers scored three runs.
• CCSU has won four straight and is 10-2 in the series.

UP NEXT

• The Blue Devils host New Haven this weekend for three games

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