(04-16-09) LOWELL, Mass. - The University of New Haven softball team defeated UMass-Lowell in a pair of games Thursday afternoon at River View Field. The Chargers took game one 3-2 and completed the sweep with a 3-1 victory in the nightcap. The Chargers improve to 22-12 overall and 14-6 in the Northeast-10 Conference, while the River Hawks fall to 5-26-1 overall and 4-13-1 in the NE-10.
Game One
In the top of the 1st inning, the Chargers jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a Samantha Minervini single to center that scored Nicole Downs from second base. Downs scored again in the 3rd inning as Breanne Gleason singled up the middle to make the score 2-0.
After the River Hawks got on the board in the bottom of the 4th inning with a home run, the Chargers benefitted from a UMass-Lowell error in the top of the 5th, tacking on another run to make it a 3-1 advantage.
In the bottom of the 7th, the River Hawks pushed across another run and had the tying run on third base with just one out in the inning. However, Gleason struck out the final two batters of the game to secure the 3-2 victory.
Gleason pitched a complete game, allowing just four hits and one earned run while striking out 11. She also went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI, while Downs finished with two hits and two runs scored for New Haven.
Game Two
New Haven fell behind early in the second game as the River Hawks scored an unearned run in the bottom of the 1st. The Chargers tied the game at 1-1 the next inning as Courtney Garland scored on a passed ball.
The score remained tied until the top of the 6th inning when Garland came around to score again, this time on a bunt by Carolyn Fruin.
New Haven added an insurance run in the top of the 7th when Minervini singled to right field, bringing home Meghan Walter who had walked to start the inning.
Gleason came on in relief and pitched 4.0 innings scoreless, allowing just one hit while striking out five. Walter went 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Garland had one hit with two runs scored.
The Chargers return to action on Saturday, April 18 when they play a doubleheader against Pace University as part of Strike Out Cancer Day. Game time is set for 12:00 p.m.
Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two
