(04-23-09) WEST HAVEN, Conn. - The University of New Haven softball team split a doubleheader with Caldwell College Thursday afternoon. New Haven took game one 5-0 and fell in the 12-inning nightcap 6-3. The Chargers move to 27-13 on the season, while the Cougars now stand at 30-12-2.
Game One
New Haven scored their first two runs in the bottom of the second inning off a Cougars error. Behind stellar pitching from junior Breanne Gleason, the Chargers shut out the Cougars and added three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 6-0 lead. Meghan Walter drove in two of the runs off a single down the right field line, while a Courtney Garland single to left field gave the Chargers a 5-0 lead.
Gleason recorded the victory, her 26th of the season, and faced 29 batters. She threw nine strikeouts and tallied the complete game shutout. Garland and Nicole Downs each tallied two hits, while Walter tallied one hits, one run and two RBI.
Game Two
In the marathon 12 inning second game the Chargers and Cougars played nearly run-for-run. Caldwell opened the game with a run in the top of the first inning. The Chargers evened the score in the bottom of the sixth inning off a Samantha Minervini RBI double to left field.
In the top of the ninth inning the Cougars scored their first run since the opening inning. The Chargers answered with two in the bottom of the inning as well. Minervini drove in one of the Chargers run, while an error by the pitcher helped score the Chargers tying run.
New Haven's best chance came in the bottom of the 10th inning when they had runners on first and second with two outs. In the top of the 12th inning the Cougars scored three runs off three hits and took a three run lead. The Chargers could not muster a run in the bottom of the inning as the Cougars broke New Haven's seven-game winning streak.
Minervini led the team with two hits and two RBI. Harold also finished with two hits, while Downs scored two of the Chargers three runs.
The Chargers return to action tomorrow, April 24 when they host Stonehill College at 3 p.m. The doubleheader was rescheduled from Wednesday afternoon.
Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two
