WSOU

Pirates Drop Home Opener to Central Connecticut State

Date: March 20, 2018

softball

(Photo: SHU Athletics)

By: Dalton Allison

The bats of the Pirates were as cold as the weather conditions at Mike Sheppard Sr. Field, as they could only muster one run against CCSU, with the final score being 6-1.

The Blue Devils struck early against the Pirates, as Gia Hathaway struck a double down the left field line to drive in leadoff hitter Brittany Camara and give CCSU a 1-0 lead. Camara was lethal against starter Madison Strunk, as she went 3-4 out of the top of the lineup.

The 1-0 lead would not last long, as the Pirates scratched their only run on the day in the bottom half of the frame. After walking to reach base with two outs, Alexis Walkden was able to cross home on a Hailey Artega double that was roped into the right field gap, tying the game at 1-1.

When Walkden crossed home plate on the Artega double, she etched her name into Seton Hall history books, setting the record for most career runs scored. Her 132nd career run was sufficient enough to put her with storied Seton Hall Softball company.

The tie would last through the second and third innings, as both teams were unable to gain momentum in the cold playing atmosphere. This worked to the advantage of CCSU, who struck out two on the way to her third victory of the season.

A Kaitlyn Paterson double put the Blue Devils ahead 2-1, which threw the momentum of the game in the direction of CCSU. While the Blue Devils held the lead, the Pirates were only down 2-1 entering the top of the seventh.

That is when things collapsed for Strunk, who would go on to lose her seventh game on the season, dropping her record to 5-7.

After a throwing error by Pirates third baseman Darby Pandolfo, there were two runners on base for the Blue devils. Brittany McNulla then broke the game open with a two RBI double, and extended the Blue Devil lead to 4-1. With another runner on, designated hitter Sydney Bolan put an exclamation mark on the game by smashing a home run over the right field fence to increase the lead to 6-1.

In the bottom of the inning, the Pirates went down in order, and lost to CCSU 6-1.

Following the loss, the Pirates dropped to 13-16 on the season. They will open up Big East play on Saturday, when they host the DePaul Blue Demons in a double header that starts at 2 pm.

Dalton Allison can be reached at dalton.allison@student.shu.edu.

Posted in: Sports, WSOU

 

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