CCSU softball won its three-game match-up against the Fairleigh Dickinson University Knights, two games to one, over the weekend.
Game one was scoreless going into the final inning when freshman Reagan Vunak cranked one over the fence to win it 1-0 for Central.
Senior Kaylee Whittaker pitched a complete game, allowing no runs while striking out nine.
FDU struck back in the second game, earning a 5-0 win over the Blue Devils. Central struggled to make solid contact and finished with just three hits.
After starting a new day, both teams were fired up to try to win the series. Whittaker took the hill for the start in the third and final game of the series.
FDU looked to keep their momentum going. Whittaker gave up a solo shot in the top of the fourth to go down 0-1.
Central didn’t wait long to answer back. Senior Meg Gorman hit a double off the wall, then advanced to third on a single from sophomore Ashlyn Desaulniers.
Senior Paige Stringer then capitalized with a three-run home run.
“I was just basing it off my last four at-bats against her, and I was like, this one has to be the one,” Stringer said. “I was up the inning before with runners on second and third and popped up, and I was like, I got to get it this next time. Someone had to step up to finally put something on the board, and I was ready for the moment.”
Gorman and Stringer debuted a new celebration in the frame, mimicking rocking a baby, first on Gorman’s double, then as Stringer crossed the plate to finish her trot.
“We have been waiting to do it,” Stringer said. “I just thought it was the perfect time to do it.”
FDU wouldn’t go out that easily, however. In the next inning, they hit another solo home run to make it a 3-2 game.
After Whittaker shut the Knights down in the sixth inning, Central could not add any insurance, making the top of the seventh inning a one-run game.
FDU went down swinging, threatening with a double, but Whittaker closed the game with a strikeout. She finished the game with nine strikeouts.
“[This win] feels real good,” Stringer said. “We just lost two games against EKU, against a great team, and it really set us up against someone who’s really competitive. We all came into today ready to win the series.”
CCSU heads to UConn on Tuesday for a bout with the Huskies before returning home to host a series against LIU over the weekend.
