(04-22-08)
Box Score Game One / Box Score Game Two
DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. - The University of New Haven softball team (22-16, 11-7 ECC) swept its third doubleheader in a row by defeating Mercy College (9-26, 2-14 ECC), 9-5 and 3-1, in East Coast Conference action on Tuesday night.
The Chargers were paced by Meg Brown's three RBI's and Jessica Medina's (photo) two RBI's to win game one. The nightcap was called for darkness with UNH leading 3-1 in the top of the seventh after Denise Castelli was injured stealing second, finishing the sweep.
The Chargers will be back in action on Friday, April 25 at 2:30 p.m. against Dowling College in their final ECC home doubleheader of the season.
Game One: UNH 9, Mercy 5
In the first game of the doubleheader the Chargers used all three of their pitchers, with freshman reliever Hannah Everson picking up the win after starter Meg Brown left after 3 2/3 innings. Everson did not allow a run in 2 1/3 innings, while Breanne Gleason closed out the game with a scoreless inning.
UNH lead the entire way as they punched three runs across in the first inning. After a fly-out, Gleason walked and advanced to second on a single to right field by Nicole Downs. With two outs, Medina doubled to center field to knock in Gleason and move Downs to third, giving UNH a 1-0 lead. Brown followed with a walk and the Chargers got two more runs as Samantha Minervini reached on an error, allowing Downs and Medina to score.
Mercy answered in the bottom of the first as Kim Curry drew a lead-off walk. Curry was able to advance to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a strike out, a two-out double from Jessica Madick plated Curry and put Mercy on the board.
The Chargers added two more runs in the top of the third inning again with two outs on the board. Medina was hit by a pitch and Brown followed with her fourth home run of the season to push the lead to 5-1. Mercy once again answered by scoring three times in the bottom of the frame to pull within 5-4 heading into the middle innings.
UNH added what would be the winning run in the fourth as freshman Courtney Garland led off with a double to center field. Meghan Walter doubled as well advancing Garland to third. Gleason followed with a sacrifice fly to center scoring Garland and giving the Chargers a 6-4 advantage.
Mercy again found a way to answer the Charger scoring as Alicia Martin and Samantha LaBella started the bottom half with back-to-back singles. A sacrifice bunt advanced both runners up a base. The bases become loaded with one out after Catherine Kowalski was hit by a pitch. Following a line out, the Chargers looked to escape but a walk by Madick drove in a run pulling the Mavericks to within one run.
The Chargers were able to put the game out of reach in the seventh as they scored three times to extend the lead to 9-5. Walter started the inning with her first home run of the season. With two outs Jordanna Borska drew a walk and freshman Chelsea Harold came in to pinch run. Harold then stole second, her ninth of the year, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Medina picked up her second RBI of the game with a double to left. Brown re-entered the game as a pinch-hitter and singled driving in Medina for her third RBI of the game.
For the Chargers, Brown went 3.2 innings, allowing five runs on six hits, but also struck out six.
Game Two: UNH 3, Mercy 1
Both offenses went silent in the second game as the Chargers came from behind scoring three runs in the fifth and holding on for a 3-1 win. The game was called for darkness in the top of the seventh with two outs and one left on base for the Chargers after senior Denise Castelli was injured while stealing second base.
Mercy opened up the scoring as Jessica Davidson drew a two out walk in the bottom of the first. Madick then singled to right advancing Davidson to third. Davidson would then score as Chelsea Methot doubled. UNH starter Gleason then ended the rally with a strike out and kept the deficit to 1-0.
Both pitchers went the distance as each did not allow a run in innings two through four until UNH finally cracked Mercy starter Stephanie Pereyo in the fifth.
In the UNH fifth, Brown lead off with a single to center and was replaced by pinch runner Carolyn Fruin. Minervini advanced Fruin to second with a sacrifice bunt. With two outs freshman Lizzy Robinson pinch hit for Castelli and was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Castelli re-entered to run for Robinson. Walter then tied the game with a single as she advanced to second, Castelli moved to third, and Fruin scored. Gleason drove in the winning runs as she doubled to left field scoring Castelli and Walter for a 3-1 advantage.
Mercy attempted to rally in the bottom of the sixth as Madick reached on an error, Methot followed with a walk, and Owsiany singled to load the bases with no outs. Gleason got the next batter to strike out swinging to get the first out. Martin then hit into a fielder's choice as the Chargers got the out at home to keep the score 3-1. Gleason shut the door on the Mavericks as she got LaBella to strike out swinging to end the inning.
Gleason went 6.0 innings allowing one run on five hits while striking out 11 Mavericks to get her tenth victory of the season.
