By Kenny Barto
The CCSU softball team remained perfect in Northeast Conference play and increased its winning streak to eight by sweeping the doubleheader against Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday.
The Blue Devils won game one by a score of 8-2, and were able to edge out the Knights 4-2 with late game heroics.
“We now have an eight game win streak, which has never been done before,” said head coach Jeff Franquet. “It’s a night and day change from last year, and that was some really good stuff out there today.”
CCSU’s success started with a three-run second inning. After a single by Amanda Dilworth, Stephanie Chotkevys doubled down the right field line. A costly error by the second baseman gave the Blue Devils the 1-0 lead, followed by a fielder’s choice that scored Chotkevys. Ariel Bruno followed with an RBI single.
Dilworth would continue her hot streak by doubling with two outs in the third inning. She was driven in shortly after by catcher Kat Knowles. In the fourth, CCSU added another run after Sarah Vlahos doubled, and another single by Bruno that lead to a sacrifice fly by Rebecca Mussatti.
The Blue Devils added its final three runs in the fifth with RBIs by Bruno and Macy Stefanski. Both Bruno and Dilworth were 3-for-4 in game one while Chotkevys and Knowles both went 2-for-3. Pitcher Jordan Tingley went six strong innings and struck out ten while giving up only two runs.
In game two, CCSU was puzzled by the pitching of Caitlin Bradac, and were shut down for the first three innings. CCSU answered a Bradac home run in the fourth with Chelsea Knowles driving in another run. The 1-1 tie would hold up until the sixth inning.
Dilworth yet again came through by kick starting CCSU’s offense with a single to center field. Kelsey Barlow would follow with a clutch RBI double to give CCSU the 2-1 lead. Two batters later, Knowles would come through yet again with a home run to deep center field, which gave CCSU more insurance going into the seventh and final inning.
Elizabeth Montemurro let up one run in the seventh, but it would be her only run allowed in four innings of combined work on the day. Julie Marks pitched four innings while striking out two while giving up one run in game two.
CCSU’s eight game win streak is the most since the 1997 Blue Devils won seven in a row. On Wed., March 30, coach Franquet picked up his 300th career victory in game one against Princeton.
In game two, the Blue Devils recorded a NCAA record by scoring 17 runs in the second inning against the Tigers. The monumental inning tied the Blue Devils for second in the NCAA for runs scored in one inning with four other teams. The all-time record is held by the College of Charleston, who scored 29 runs in 2004.
“That was a really special day for us,” said coach Franquet. “You know, the one thing I preach is that we can hit the ball, and this team has something special, they believe in themselves, and they have great team camaraderie.”
Along with doubleheader sweeps against FDU and Princeton, CCSU beat Yale and St. Francis (PA) to make up the impressive winning streak. Before the winning streak, CCSU’s record stood at 6-9-1, with all games played in Tampa, FL, Baltimore, MD, and Hampton, VA.
“Things are rolling along for us right now,” said Franquet. “We might hit a bump or two along the road, but the bottom line is to be able to stay positive and keep working hard.”
CCSU continues with a busy week with doubleheaders against Temple and Hartford on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by Sacred Heart and Robert Morris on Saturday and Sunday.