(05-02-09) SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The University of New Haven softball defeated split a pair of games at the Northeast-10 Conference Championship at Le Moyne College Saturday afternoon. New Haven defeated Southern Connecticut State University 4-3 in their first game of the day and fell 12-3 to host Le Moyne in their nightcap. The Chargers now take on Southern Connecticut tomorrow at 10 a.m. for a spot in the championship game.
Game One
Junior Nicole Downs hit two homeruns, including on in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Chargers the victory. She hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the score at 3-3. She then stepped to the plate with no one on base and two outs in the bottom of the eighth and hammered a shot over the center field fence.
Earlier in the game, UNH was first to get on the board with one run in the bottom of the first inning. The Owls later answered with three runs in the top of the fourth inning.
Breanne Gleason pitched the complete game for the Chargers and threw 12 strikeouts. She allowed only three runs and two extra-base hits. She also went 3-for-4 at the plate for the Chargers.
Downs paced the UNH bats her two hits, three RBI and two runs, while Chelsea Harold added three hits and a runs scored. Jessica Medina and Allison Vaughan each added hits as well.
Game Two
In the nightcap, nationally ranked No. 16 Le Moyne jumped out to an early lead after a three run first inning. The Chargers added one in the bottom half of the inning to bring the score to 3-1. The Dolphins added one in the top of the second, while Downs drove in two more in the bottom of the second to bring the Charger within one, 4-3.
The difference in game two came in the top of the fourth inning, when the Dolphins exploded with five runs to take a 9-3 lead. Le Moyne added three in the top of the sixth and sealed their 39th victory of the season.
Samantha Minervini led the Chargers with two hits and a run scored, while Downs tallied the one hit for two RBI. Meghan Walter drove the Chargers other run in with the team's only other hit in the game.
The Chargers return to action tomorrow morning when they take on Southern Connecticut in a rematch of today's game. The winner will advance to take on Le Moyne in the championship game. Game time is set for 10 a.m. The Championship game is set to start at 12 p.m. Should another game be needed it will start at approximately 2 p.m.
Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two
