The Central Connecticut State University softball team got its’ first win of the season in the series opener against Fairleigh Dickinson University on Friday, March 18, at home. Despite winning the first game of the series, the Blue Devils lost the next two and ultimately the series.

CCSU’s senior pitcher Kari Marks threw three and a half hitless innings and didn’t allow a run until the fifth inning of the game. The offense failed to capitalize on Mark’s strong pitching by not giving her any run support, which resulted in a no-decision for the senior.

The Blue Devils’ bats finally came alive in the sixth inning when junior Meg Gorman got on base with a single and then advanced to second base on a single from sophomore Paige Stringer. A two-out clutch single from senior Bri Walker with the bases loaded drove in CCSU’s first and only two runs of the game.

Central’s senior pitcher Ashley Antonazzo relieved Marks in the sixth inning and pitched two hitless innings to pick up the 2-1 victory.

The Blue Devils fell, 5-2, in the second game of the series. FDU started the scoring in this one by hitting back-to-back doubles in the second inning to take an early 1-0 lead. In the sixth inning, the Knights added another run by playing small ball to go up 2-0.

The Blue Devils fought back in the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff single from freshman Jazmin Lasane followed by a Stringer walk. With runners on first and second, Walker delivered a single that drove in two runs to tie the game at 2-2.

FDU answered the CCSU rally with one of their own in the top of the seventh inning. A leadoff triple followed by two home runs gave the Knights a 5-2 lead in the game’s final inning. The Blue Devils got the leadoff batter on base to start the bottom of the seventh but could not put together a comeback.

The Blue Devils wrapped up their series against the Knights with a 3-1 loss on Sunday, March 20. CCSU struck first with a double from Stringer that scored Gorman. But that would be the Blue Devils’ only run of the game.

FDU took control of the lead in the third inning with a two-run home run to put them ahead 2-1. In the fourth, wild pitches against two straight batters allowed FDU to get a runner on third with one out. A following fielder’s choice allowed that runner to score, extending FDU’s lead to 3-1.

Up next for the CCSU softball team is a doubleheader against Yale University on Wednesday, March 23, in New Haven.