Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
10-28
Central Connecticut State
20-11
Softball Falls to Central Connecticut in Doubleheader
April 17, 2024 | Softball
NEW BRITAIN, CONN.- The Army West Point softball team (10-29) was bested by Central Connecticut (21-11) in both games of the doubleheader, 3-1 and 6-5.Â
GAME 1
In the bottom of the first inning, Central Connecticut took an early lead with a fly out to center field from Paige Stringer.
Army's starting pitcher, Amanda Eaglin, held the Blue Devils in check in the bottom of the second, preventing them from getting a hit or scoring. However, in the bottom of the third, Central Connecticut extended their lead with a two-run home run late in the inning.
Relief pitcher Breanna Izzo shut down Central Connecticut's offense for the remainder of the game, conceding only two hits, providing Army with an opportunity to mount a comeback.
Kaylee Whittaker, Central Connecticut's pitcher, effectively stifled the Black Knights' offense, allowing them only three hits throughout the game. However, in the final inning, Army managed to get on the scoreboard with an RBI double from Caitlyn Newburn.
Despite Army's late push, they were unable to overcome Central Connecticut's lead and fell short in game one of the doubleheader, with a final score of 3-1.
GAME 2
Central Connecticut carried their momentum from the first game into the second, swiftly scoring three runs in the top of the first inning.
However, Olivia Farris's superb pitching swiftly halted their momentum in the bottom of the second, as the Blue Devils failed to secure a hit or a run.
In the top of the third, Army began to seize back the momentum. It all began with Ashton White smashing her third home run of the season, igniting the Black Knights' offense.
Continuing the momentum into the top of the first, Julia Farris narrowed the deficit to one with her first home run of the season. Then, Kayla Edwards' bat heated up, driving in an RBI double to level the game. Finally, Ashton White's bunt single pushed Army ahead.
Olivia Farris continued to pitch masterfully in the following innings, conceding no hits or runs.
In the top of the sixth, Army pressed on. Ashton White notched another RBI with a double to right center.
However, Central Connecticut refused to give up. In the bottom of the seventh, the Blue Devils scored two consecutive runs, knotting the game and forcing extra innings.
The eighth and ninth innings witnessed a pitching duel between Army's Lauren Levendoski and Central Connecticut's Liz Hamilton, with both pitchers keeping the opposition at bay.
It wasn't until the bottom of the 10th inning that Central Connecticut broke the deadlock and clinched the game following an Army error.
Despite the defeat, Army's pitchers Olivia Farris and Lauren Levendoski delivered stellar performances, tallying 13 strikeouts between them.
NEXT UP
Army will return to action on April 23 when they face UAlbany on the road.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: K. Whittaker (10-5)
L: Eaglin, Amanda (3-11)
Batting:
2B: White, Ashton 1 ; Newburn, Caitlyn 1
RBI: Newburn, Caitlyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: White, Ashton 1
Batting:
HR: P. Stringer 1
RBI: P. Stringer 2 ; K. Machado 1
SH: S. LoPiccolo 1
SF: K. Machado 1
Base Running:
RUNS: M. Gorman 1 ; S. LoPiccolo 1 ; P. Stringer 1
