Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 New Britain, Conn. (March 21, 2021)—Central Connecticut used the long ball to sweep Mount St. Mary's in a Northeast Conference doubleheader on Sunday to sweep the four-game series this weekend.  The Blue Devils hit three home runs in a 10-5 win in the opening game before seeing Carli Backlund hit a two-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the seventh for a 3-2 win in game two.  It was a tough weekend for the Mountaineers, who fall to 7-15 overall and 0-4 in the NEC.

Looking to salvage a split of Sunday's twinbill, the Mount took a 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh of game two behind the speed of Bridgette Gilliano.  With one out, the freshman laced a ball into center field and hustled to second base for a double.  Mariah Godde followed with an infield single up the middle.  GIlliano was caught in a rundown on the play when CCSU shortstop Meg Gorman threw behind her at third base.  Gilliano, though, was able to escape the rundown and slide home with the go-ahead run.

CCSU answered in the bottom of the seventh when Paige Stringer singled to center field with one out, and after a strikeout, Backlund lofted a long fly over the fence in right field to propel CCSU to the 3-2 victory.

The Mount took an early 1-0 lead in the game with a run in the top of the second.  CCSU evened the score in the bottom of the third on a Rian Eigenmann RBI single.

Gilliano went 2-for-3 at the plate to pace the Mount in the opening game.  Avery Neuhart allowed three runs in 6.2 innings in the circle.

In the opening game, the Mount jumped out to the early lead with three runs in the top of the first inning.  Kaylee Stoner walked to start the inning and stole second.  After a strikeout, Tori Bowles cracked a two-run homer to give the Mount the lead.  With two outs and the bases empty, Abigayle Perry drew a walk and Vanessa Martin singled to put two runners on base.  Maggie Kane came through single to left to score Perry to push the lead to 3-0.

The Blue Devils answered right back with a four-run bottom of the first.  A single and two walks loaded the bases for Meg Dumas, who lofted a sacrifice fly to put CCSU on the scoreboard.  Stringer followed with a three-run home run to give her team a 4-3 lead.

The long ball hurt the Mount again in the bottom of the third when CCSU put a pair of runners on for Dumas, who belted a three-run shot to make it 7-3.

Mount St. Mary's got a pair of runs back in the top of the fourth.  Kane walked and then came around to score when Godde reached on an error.  Stoner then doubled home Godde to cut the deficit to 7-5.  CCSU got a run back in the bottom of the inning on a passed ball, and Backlund's two-run homer in the fifth push the lead to 10-5.

Godde and Martin each had two hits for the Mount in the loss.  Amanda Berkley started and allowed seven runs in three innings of work.  Elizabeth King pitched the final three innings, allowing two earned runs.

The Mount heads to Morgan State for a Wednesday, March 24, doubleheader with first pitch coming at 2:00 p.m.