(03-28-09) WEST HAVEN, Conn. - The University of New Haven softball team won a pair of games against the visiting College of Saint Rose Golden Knights (6-8, 2-2) thanks to walkoff hits in both games. The Chargers (9-5, 2-0) won their first Northeast-10 Conference game, 3-2, when freshman Amy Nepi hit a home run in the bottom of the eighth inning. With the score tied 2-2 in the second game of the doubleheader, New Haven junior Nicole Downs singled through the left side of the infield to bring home Chelsea Harold for the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh.
Game One
The Chargers jumped ahead of St. Rose early in as Downs hit a deep solo home run to center field, putting the team ahead 1-0. The Golden Knights answered in the top of the second with a home run of their own to even the score. In the top of the fourth inning, St. Rose put together three consecutive singles off of New Haven starter Breanna Gleason, the last of which scored a run to put the Golden Knights ahead 2-1.
That score remained until the bottom of the seventh when pinch hitter Samantha Minervini walked to start the inning. Carolyn Fruin successfully sacrificed her to second base and a groundout by Harold moved her to third with two outs. Meghan Walter stepped to the plate and drove a single up the middle to tie the game at 2-2, sending it to extra innings.
After Gleason worked a scoreless top of the eighth, New Haven came to the plate. The Chargers recorded two outs before Nepi's first home run of the season sealed the game for New Haven.
Both Harold and Walter went 2-for-4 at the plate for in the victory. Gleason picked up her eighth win of season after pitching eight innings with six strikeouts and no walks.
Game Two
Freshman Courtney Creedon made her first start of the season for the Chargers and gave up two early runs in the top of the first before working scoreless for the next five innings.
The Chargers got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Walter singled to right, scoring Fruin from second base. Freshman Katie Bannon came in to pinch run for Walter and moved into scoring position after stealing second base. With two outs, Jessica Medina came through with a double to left center, scoring Bannon and tying the game at 2-2.
In the bottom of the seventh, Harold reached first on an error by the Golden Knight's third baseman before Walter walked to put two runners on base and set up Downs for the game winning-single.
Gleason picked up the win after relieving Creedon and pitching a perfect seventh inning. Walter and Downs both finished with two hits and one RBI for New Haven.
The Chargers' doubleheader with Le Moyne College scheduled for tomorrow, March 28 has been postponed due to anticipated inclement weather. The doubleheader will be played on Wednesday, April 1 at UNH. Game time is now 3 p.m.
Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two
