(05-07-08)
Box Score
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. -- The University of New Haven softball team could not recover from an early 8-0 deficit as #9 C.W. Post defeated the Chargers in the first round of the NCAA Northeast Regional 8-7 on Wednesday afternoon. The Chargers rallied in the top of the seventh scoring four times, but left the tying run on third base stranded. UNH will have an opportunity to battle back in the double-elimination bracket as they will take on 5th seeded Georgian Court on Thursday, May 8 at 11:30 a.m.
Remember you can follow the tournament with LiveStats courtesy of C.W. Post and UNH will broadcast live audio for the Chargers' game against Georgian Court tomorrow. Check the UNH Athletics website for more information.
The Chargers (25-20) fell behind early in the game as C.W. Post (45-14) scored four times in each of the first two innings to build a 8-0 lead. UNH was able to answer in the fourth with a Courtney Garland (photo) 3-run double and with four more runs in the top of the seventh before Pioneer ace Samantha Yodowitz ended the Charger rally. Yodowitz went all seven for the Pioneers pitching a no-hitter into the fourth and picking up her 24th win of the season.
The Pioneers got to UNH starter Breanne Gleason quickly in the bottom of the first as Melissa Medina lead off with a single and was moved to second by a bunt single from Kelsey Cooley. C.W. Post then got their third straight hit, another single by Christie Softy scoring Medina but Cooley got caught trying to score on the throw and was tagged out by the catcher. Gleason got clean-up hitter Melissa Hippo to fly out and looked to get out of the inning only trailing 1-0. Yodowitz helped herself with a RBI infield single as she beat out the throw from the shortstop allowing Softy to score. The Pioneers capitalized and Holly Eringis hit a 2-run home run over the left field fence to give C.W. Post a 4-0 lead. After a Katie Younes triple, Gleason ended the inning with a strikeout.
C.W. Post produced four more runs in the bottom of the second that eventually chased Gleason from the circle. Gleason got the first batter with a strikeout but three straight singles loaded the bases for the Pioneers with one out. Hippo hit a RBI sacrifice fly to push the score to 5-0 and give the Chargers two outs and looking to escape the big inning. A passed ball by catcher Jordanna Borska allowed another Pioneer run to score pushing the lead to six. Yodowitz helped herself again as she hit an opposite field 2-run home run over the left field wall scoring the Pioneers final runs of the game.
Meg Brown came in to relieve Gleason and was able to induce a groundout to end the inning with the Chargers trailing 8-0. Brown finished the game in the circle for UNH and shut down the Pioneer offense giving UNH the opportunity to rally back.
The Chargers finally broke through in the top of the fourth as Nicole Downs broke up Yodowitz's no-hit bid with an one-out single to right field. Third baseman Jessica Medina then drew a walk giving UNH a base runner in scoring position. Borska followed with a single to center field, loading the bases for the Chargers. Brown couldn't push a run across as she hit into a fielder's choice with Downs out at home. Garland continued her splendid play as she hit a ball deep to the left field wall where the Pioneer outfielder could not handle it driving in three runs with a double moving the deficit to five (8-3).
After a scoreless fifth and sixth, UNH rallied in the top of the seventh as Garland had her second hit of the day with a lead off single down the left field line. The Pioneers then opened the door for the Chargers with their first of three errors in the inning allowing Samantha Minervini to reach base and move Garland to second. Chelsea Harold was able to put down a perfect bunt single and load the bases with no outs. First baseman Meghan Walter reached on a RBI fielder's choice as the C.W. Post catcher dropped the ball at the plate making the score 8-4. After a pop out, Downs hit her second single of the day scoring Minervini. Harold came around to score as well on an error by the Pioneer right fielder to pull the Chargers even closer, 8-6.
With runners at second and third base and only one out, UNH looked to draw even with C.W. Post. Medina continued the Charger rally by knocking in pinch runner Hannah Everson with an RBI single and moving the tying run to third base. Yodowitz then worked some magic as Borska attempted to catch the Pioneers by surprise with a bunt, but popped it up for the second out of the inning. Yodowitz then got Brown to pop out to the second baseman to end the game.
