(04-24-09) WEST HAVEN, Conn. - The University of New Haven softball team split a doubleheader against visiting Stonehill College on Friday afternoon. The Chargers (28-14, 19-7 Northeast-10 Conference) took the first game, 11-2, in five innings before dropping game two by the score of 7-4.
Game One
Both teams found success at the plate early as the Chargers put three runs on the board in the bottom of the 1st inning thanks to two errors by the Skyhawks, and Stonehill connected with a two-run homer in the top of the 2nd to make it a 3-2 game in favor of New Haven.
That score remained until the bottom of the 4th when New Haven sent 12 batters to the plate and exploded for eight runs. Courtney Garland got the rally started with a RBI single to right field that scored Meghan Walter from second base. New Haven added to its lead when Jessica Medina singled with the bases loaded to bring home Nicole Downs and Samantha Minervini. With two outs, Allison Vaughn singled and a Skyhawks' throwing error allowed two more runs to score and give the Chargers an 11-2 lead that held through the fifth inning mercy rule.
Minervini finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Meghan Walter went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI. Vaughn went 2-for-2 at the plate, and Downs was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and one RBI.
Courtney Creedon picked up her second win of the season, finishing with five strikeouts and one walk allowed. She allowed two earned runs over 5.0 innings for the complete game victory.
Game Two
New Haven fell behind early as the Skyhawks posted a four spot in the top of the 1st inning. The Chargers pushed across one run in the bottom of the frame on a RBI single by Medina to make the score 4-1.
In the top of the 2nd, Stonehill scored twice more, but the Chargers answered back in the bottom of the 3rd with a pair of their own. Walter took a two-out walk and Gleason hit a double down the left field line to bring home Walter from first base. Medina came through again with her second RBI single of the day to make the score 6-3 after three innings.
After the Skyhawks scored one more run to increase their lead to 7-3, the Chargers tallied another run in the bottom of the 7th and threatened for more. New Haven had runners on first and third with one out, but Stonehill was able to get out of the jam and secure the victory.
Medina led the way for the Chargers, going 2-for-3 with two RBI. Downs and Gleason both finished with one hit, one RBI and one run scored, while Creedon was charged with her first loss of the season.
The Chargers return to action tomorrow, April 25 when they travel to Franklin Pierce for a doubleheader starting at noon.
Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two
