(05-01-08)
Box Score
BROOKHAVEN, N.Y. -- Breanne Gleason (photo) pitched seven strong innings in relief and both Meg Brown and Jessica Medina homered to lead third-seeded University of New Haven to a 6-3 win over No. 2 Adelphi University in the second round of the East Coast Conference Softball Championships at Dowling College's Golden Lion Field on Thursday morning.
The win, UNH's second in this tournament, puts the Chargers (25-17) in the semifinals on Friday at 11:00 a.m., where they will take on (1) C.W. Post in a winners' bracket matchup. The Pioneers defeated (5) Bridgeport in a tight 4-3 decision following UNH's win on Thursday.
Adelphi (37-18) will now need to come out of the loser's bracket and will play (4) New York Tech at 2:00 p.m. Thursday in an elmination game for both teams.
The Chargers jumped to an early lead in the top of the first inning after Medina blasted a two-run homer over the left field fence.
After the Panthers loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning with no outs off New Haven starter Brown, Gleason came in and shut the Panthers down by getting back-to-back bases loaded groundouts and a strikeout to end the inning. In the top of the second inning, UNH’s Brown redeemed herself by sending a solo shot over the left field fence for a 3-0 Charger lead.
Adelphi chipped away and in the bottom of the inning produced a run. Angela Martin started the inning with a single to right center. A single by Panther starter Julia Shaper and a walk to Katie Brophy loaded the bases with two outs. A fielding error by the Chargers' third baseman provided for an unearned Adelphi tally.
In the top of the third, New Haven tacked on another run after Gleason led off the inning with a double down the left field line and scored off a Jordanna Borska single to center field. In the top of the fifth, it was Gleason again starting things off by reaching base on an error and later coming around to score the fifth run of the day on a double by Medina.
The top of the sixth was led off by Courtney Garland getting hit by a pitch and a walk to Meghan Walter. That put two runners on for Gleason, who sent her second double of the game down the left field line for a 6-1 lead.
Adelphi’s Brophy singled down the left field line and with two outs in the seventh, and Jessica Vogt drove her home with a double off the fence in left center. After an error by New Haven’s third baseman, Gleason induced a ground out to second, stifling the Panthers’ comeback and preserving the Charger win.
Gleason finished 2-for-4 with an RBI at the plate and in the circle allowed just one earned run in seven relief innings, as she scattered eight hits and fanned four batters.
For the Panthers, starter Julia Shaper went five-plus, giving up five earned runs on six hits. Relief pitcher Samantha Tilton shut down the four batters she faced.
2008 East Coast Conference Softball Championships
DAY ONE - Wednesday, April 30
Game 1: at (3) New Haven 11, (6) Dowling 3 (6 innings)
Game 2: (5) Bridgeport 1, at (4) New York Tech 0
DAY TWO - Thursday, May 1
(at Dowling College/Brookhaven, N.Y.)
Game 3: (3) New Haven 6, (2) Adelphi 3
Game 4: (1) C.W. Post 4, (5) Bridgeport 3
Game 5: (2) Adelphi 6, (4) New York Tech 2
Game 6: (5) Bridgeport 3, (6) Dowling 2
DAY THREE - Friday, May 2
(at Dowling College/Brookhaven, N.Y.)
Game 7: (3) New Haven vs. (1) C.W. Post, 11:00 a.m.
Game 8: (5) Bridgeport vs. (2) Adelphi, 1:30 p.m.
Game 9: Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 4:00 p.m.
DAY FOUR - Saturday, May 3
(at Dowling College/Brookhaven, N.Y.)
Game 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9, 12:00 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9 (if necessary), 30 minutes later
