On April 28, The Quinnipiac softball team was swept at the hands of Northeast Conference foe Bryant in a two-game set. On Sunday they sought redemption against another conference opponent, Central Connecticut. However, it was not to be as the Bobcats were swept once again. The Blue Devils handily dispatched the Quinnipiac squad, winning 9-0 in the Game 1 and 10-2 in Game 2.
Despite the two lopsided losses, this will be a day four Bobcats will never forget, one they will hold near to their hearts for life. Prior to the start of Game 1, the four Bobcats seniors, Alex Alba, Bridget Figmic, Lauren Salgado, and Kortney Kesses, were honored by their coaches, fans, and teammates in the annual senior day ceremony. The four seniors have taken the Quinnipiac program to new heights, leading the team to over 107 victories in their four years. Alex Alba ranks first in program history with 43 doubles, second with 190 hits, fifth with 90 RBI, and eighth with 13 home runs. On the field, Figmic has been a sure thing through her four years, starting 133 straight games at third base. On the other hand, Kesses has made a career out of her versatility, starting at least one game at every offensive position besides shortstop. Finally, the speedy Salgado has played in 199 games and is second in program history with 46 steals.
The good times ended there for the Bobcats unfortunately. Central Connecticut was in control for the entire day. The Blue Devils pitched nine shutout innings against Quinnipiac; they didn’t surrender their first run until the second inning of game two. The Bobcats fought hard in the early goings. The game was scoreless after two innings until a late error allowed the Blue Devils to score two unearned runs the third inning, but sophomore Hannah Lindsley regained her composure, got out of the jam in the third, and pitched a scoreless fourth. In the fifth inning the Blue Devils took control of the day. Central Connecticut tagged Quinnipiac for seven runs in the inning. Arielle Bruno led off the inning with a home run off Lindsley. Nicole Springer drove in another run which lead Quinnipiac head coach Germaine Fairchild to make a pitching change, pulling Lindsley in favor of Nicole Gubellini. Unfortunately, Gubellini did not fare much better. The freshman surrendered a home run to Kelsey Barlow, the first batter she faced, to put the Bobcats down six. The Blue Devils would add on another two runs to make it a 9-0 ballgame and bring home the victory.
Game 2 did not go much better for Quinnipiac. The Blue Devils kept their momentum rolling, scoring in each of the first four innings. The Bobcats finally scored in the bottom of the second when Courtney Solt drove in the two seniors, Figmic and Kesses, on a two-run double to tie the game for the first time all day. However, Central Connecticut would respond tremendously in the third, once again lighting up Quinnipiac for seven runs. At the end of the day the Blue Devils outscored the Bobcats 19-2.
The loss moves Quinnipiac to 15-31 on the season and 8-8 in the conference. It also gives the Bobcats a 1-8 record since they ended their seven-game win streak.
