(04-25-08)
Box Score - Game One / Box Score - Game Two
WEST HAVEN, Conn. -- A RBI single in the 8th inning by Jessica Medina (photo) gave the University of New Haven softball team a split against ECC conference foe Dowling College on Friday afternoon. Dowling took game one of the doubleheader, 4-0, as Jackie Hannan had a 2-RBI single for the Golden Lions. In game two Courtney Garland had two runs batted in as the Chargers won with two outs in the 8th inning, 5-4.
With the split UNH ends the regular season with a 23-17 record overall and a 12-8 mark in the East Coast Conference, while Dowling moves to 27-26, 9-9.
UNH must now sit and play the waiting game to see where they will end up in the conference standings. The Chargers currently sit in fourth place with the top six teams advancing to the ECC Tournament. The ECC Tournament begins on April 30 and ends with the championship on May 3.
GAME ONE - Dowling 4, UNH 0
Dowling pitcher Stephanie Plochochi was able to scatter five Charger hits to pick up the complete game shutout win. Meg Brown went the distance for UNH holding the Golden Lions without a hit until the top of the seventh. Brown struck out 10 and allowed only two hits in the loss.
Dowling was able to take the lead in the third inning as Lisa Compitello and Kacie Pinto were able to draw walks from Brown. An intentional walk to the ECC's leading hitter, Taras Wallace, had the bases loaded with no outs. Keri Boystak was able to hit a RBI sacrifice fly to center to score Compitello and take a 1-0 lead. After another walk, Kristina DeMeo hit into a fielder's choice to second picking up a RBI and giving the Lions a 2-0 advantage.
The Chargers looked to get on the board in the fourth as Breanne Gleason and Nicole Downs had back-to-back singles to start the inning. Catcher Jordanna Borska advanced both runners as she laid down a sacrifice bunt. Plochochi was able to escape the inning by getting the next two Chargers to ground out and hold on to the 2-0 lead.
The Golden Lions added some insurance runs in the seventh when with Compitello finally got the first Dowling hit, a bunt single, of the ballgame. Dowling was able to load the bases again with two outs and Hannan came through with a two-RBI hit through the right side of the infield pushing the lead to 4-0.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, the Chargers got back-to-back singles from Sam Minervini and Courtney Garland but a foul out to third ended any hope for a UNH comeback.
GAME TWO - UNH 5, Dowling 4 (8 innings)
The Chargers scored first but had to battle back to take the second game of the doubleheader in eight innings. UNH pitcher Gleason picked up the complete game win going all eight innings, striking out nine while giving up four runs off eight hits. Dowling used three pitchers in the loss as relief pitcher Julia Carbone came in to the game in the fifth inning took the loss.
UNH plated their first runs of the day in the second as Brown lead off with a single to left field. She was advanced to second by a Minervini sacrifice bunt and scored on a Dowling error as Garland singled and advanced to second on the throw from the outfield. Garland also scored on the play as the throwing error went into the outfield giving the Chargers a 2-0 lead.
Dowling answered right back in the top of the third inning as the Lions were able to get runners at first and second with two outs. Clean-up hitter Hannan collected her fifth RBI of the day as she ripped a three run home run to left center giving Dowling a one run lead, 3-2.
The Golden Lions were able to add another run in the fifth as DeMeo singled up the middle to score Wallace making the score 4-2.
The Chargers like their opponents answered right back in the bottom of the fifth scoring twice to tie the game. Downs drew a walk to start the inning and was advanced to second on a fielder's choice. After a Medina walk, Brown ripped a RBI double to center field to score Downs and pull the Chargers within one run. With runners at second and third, Minervini laid down a bunt but Amber Tolifero was called out at home on a failed "suicide squeeze" attempt. With two outs Garland came through again for UNH as she singled through the left side driving in Brown from third and tying the contest at 4-4.
UNH looked to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth after Meghan Walter singled and Gleason walked to put runners on with no outs. Carbone was able to get the next to batters to fly out but a Medina single loaded the bases for the Chargers with two outs. Dowling escaped trouble again by getting a ground out to end the threat.
With neither team threatening in the seventh the game went into extra frames to determine a winner. In the eighth, Dowling was able to load the bases with two outs, but Gleason induced a ground out to keep the game tied heading into the Charger half.
After a ground out and fly out, Downs beat out a single to the pitcher and advanced to third on a Borska single to right field. Medina followed with a bloop game-winning RBI single over the shortstop's head to score Downs and give the Chargers the 5-4 victory.
