Game One- UNH 4, SCSU 1
Game Two - UNH 5, SCSU 4

WEST HAVEN, Conn. - The No. 11 University of New Haven softball team took two from Southern Connecticut State University on Wednesday afternoon. The Chargers won game one 4-1 led by a three-run homer from Breanne Gleason (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Central ) and a  5-4 win in the nightcap. Ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the Northeast-10 Conference, respectively, the doubleheader served as an important stepping stone to finishing with the 2010 Regular Season Championship title. The twinbill also served as bragging rights in the Downs household, as Nicole Downs (Seymour, Conn./Seymour) is a senior at UNH, while her sister, Alyssa Downs, is a freshmen for the Owls. With the wins, the Chargers improve to 32-4 overall and 20-2 in conference, while the Owls slip to 31-11 overall and 19-5 in the NE-10.

Game One
The Chargers got on the boards early thanks to a three-run dinger over the center field fence from Gleason. The senior drove in Christina Gelardi (Derby, Conn./Derby) who had singled and Downs who was walked.
New Haven extended its lead to four with a single run in the bottom of the fourth inning. After designated player Samantha Minervini (Nutley, N.J./Nutley ) was walked, Courtney Garland (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow ) connected for ball down the right field line. Amy Nepi (New Castle, Del./St. Elizabeth ) who was pinch running for MInervini advanced to third on the play. The following at bat, Shannon Angehr (Levittown, N.Y./Division Avenue ) put down a beautifully placed bunt. Not only was Nepi able to swipe home with ease, but Angehr's quick feet prevented any play at first as well.

The only response the visiting Owls had was a solo home run from Alyssa Downs in the final inning.

Gleason went the distance on the mound, scattering six hits, while striking out 10.

Gelardi and Angehr both added a pair of runs, while Gleason finished with a hit and three RBI.

Game Two
Game two proved to be the most exciting of the pair of games with four lead changes.

After two scoreless innings, it was the SCSU that lit up the board first in the top of the third. The Owls' Khristle Lee tripled to drive in the run to give them a 1-0 lead.

The Chargers immediately responded in the bottom of the stanza with a pair of runs. Gelardi led the inning off with an infield single and then took second on a passed ball. Downs collected a hit on a well placed bunt that also brought Gelardi to third. On the following at bat, Gleason reached first on a fielder's choice when Gelardi opted to go home. She was called out when the Owl's pitcher fired it back to the plate. With Downs at third and Gleason on third, Allison Vaughn drove the ball into deep right field for the two-RBI double.

Undaunted, the Owls took their second lead of the night in the fourth inning. Alyssa Downs tallied her second homer of the day with a three-run shot over the left field fence. SCSU led 4-2 halfway thru the fourth.

Determined to prevent their third NE-10 loss, he Chargers added three run for themselves in the fourth inning as well. With two runners in scoring position, Downs singled to the right field driving in both base runners. The final and winning run of the day was tallied when Downs scored off an out - Meghan Walter (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore ) collected the RBI.

The bats quieted in the final innings and the Chargers escaped with the 5-4 win - their 20th NE-10 win of the season.

Downs paced the Chargers, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs, while Gelardi, Gleason and Vaughn each picked up a pair of hits.

Gleason, en route to her 23rd complete game, allowed five hits, while striking out six.

With just six games left on the regular season schedule, the Chargers are on pace to claim the NE-10 regular season title and the honors to host the NE-10 Championships. The only team who is in the running is SCSU, who trails the Chargers by three games. If the Owls were to remain perfect for the remainder of their season, New Haven would need to win four of the six games to claim sole ownership of the title.

Saint Michael's, who sits in last place in the conference, is the first of the last three teams the Chargers will face. The matchup is set for Wednesday at the UNH Softball Field. The first game is slated for 3:00 p.m.