by Daniel Fappiano

If you were to attend a Central Connecticut softball game, there’s a good chance you would see senior Emily Sargent on the mound. Of the Blue Devils’ 33 games, Sargent leads the team with 16 starts, 23 appearances and 118.2 innings pitched. In watching Sargent, not only would you see CCSU’s workhorse, but a senior leader who is finding her stride and pitching some of her best softball as conference play begins.

Over her 118.2 innings, Sargent has pitched a 7-8 record with a 2.83 earned run average and a 53/31 strikeout/walk ratio. Recently, the senior was named Northeast Conference Pitcher of the Week, following four outings that saw her throw 31 innings and compile just a 1.58 ERA while striking out 14 in three wins.

Outside of Sargent’s strength as an innings-eater, she has also shown an ability to have strong composure no matter the situation. Multiple times throughout the season, Sargent has been able to bounce back after letting up consecutive hits or walks to get out of an inning. That composure has allowed the Blue Devils to remain in games and not face large scoring deficits.

Head coach Breanne Gleason knows how important Sargent is to her team. She knows that no matter the situation she can trust her senior on the mound to get it done.

“It puts everybody at ease knowing that she [Sargent] can pitch in any situation,” Gleason said. “She can pitch with the tying run on second, she can pitch with the winning run on second, she can pitch with the bases loaded, it means the world to our team that she can go out there and pitch like that.”

Sargent, herself, understands how her ability to stay calm in tough situations affects her team. However, the senior credits the defense behind her for her ability to stay composed.

“It definitely comes from experience, I’ve been pitching a long time, and it hasn’t always been like that,” Sargent said. “I have a lot of confidence in the defense behind me, so that helps settle my mind. I don’t get stressed out because I know they’re there behind me every time.”

As a senior and the team’s ace, Sargent must lead in the dugout and on the mound. However, the Lancaster, Massachusetts native relishes the opportunity to help lead her team to victory.

“It gives me a chance to show these underclassmen what it takes to get to the tournament,” Sargent said. “It gives me an opportunity to show them what softball is all about.”

Sargent states that the main reason she chose CCSU was due to the team’s toughness and their ability to work through any situation. Four years later, she remains humbled that she was able to be a Blue Devil.

“I’m very prideful of being a Blue Devil,” Sargent said. “We put in a lot of hard work, everybody on this team has, and we all come here and show everybody what we’re made of.”

Central has 14 games left in the regular season. There’s a very good chance that Sargent is on the mound for a majority of them. If she keeps pitching and leading how she has recently, there’s a good chance that the Blue Devils find their way back into the NEC tournament.