Game One Box Score - UNH 5, Pace 3
Game Two Box Score - UNH 2, Pace 1 (8)
WEST HAVEN, Conn. - The University of New Haven softball team kept their 14 game winning streak and perfect NE-10 record alive with two wins against Pace University of Saturday afternoon at the UNH Softball Field. Both games of the doubleheader were low scoring close matchups with the Chargers taking the first game 5-3. In the nightcap, UNH needed extra innings to seal the win 2-1. A single to right field from Nicole Downs (Seymour, Conn./Seymour) allowed Chelsea Harold (Oxford, Conn./Seymour ) a swipe home in the eighth inning. New Haven improves to 18-2 and 8-0 in the Northeast-10, while Pace drops to 11-9 and 0-4 in the league.
GAME ONE
The Chargers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. After being placed on first from a walk, Christina Gelardi (Derby, Conn./Derby) swiped second to put a runner in scoring position with two outs. Breanne Gleason (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Central ) connected with the ball for her first home run of the season - a deep ball passed the left field fence.
The setters returned the favor with two runs of their own in the top of the following inning to keep the game tied at 2-2 after two innings.
The third inning looked to be going in the Setters favor as they loaded the bases, but a tight defense from the Chargers prevented Pace from taking the lead.
Once again the two teams went run-for-run in the fourth inning, each adding a single run. Courtney Garland (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow ) singled up the middle to get a runner on base. Two batters later, Gabby Cruz (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore ) singled to center field, bringing in Garland from second.
The game tied 3-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth, the Chargers broke the game open with a pair of runs off two hits. Keri Tricinelli (Brick, N.J./Monsignor Donovan) led the inning off with a single to right field with Garland following that up with a single of her own. The runners advanced to third and second off a sacrifice bunt from Amy Nepi (New Castle, Del./St. Elizabeth ). The following play, Cruz drilled one to the pitcher who went for the out at first, however made a throwing error that allowed not only Shannon Angehr (Levittown, N.Y./Division Avenue ) who was pinch running for Trincinelli to score, but also brought in Garland.
The Chargers shutdown the Setters in their final at bat to take the first game.
Gleason, who came in for Trincinelli in the sixth inning, recorded the win. Garland and Cruz both added two hits apiece.
GAME TWO
In the nightcap, it was the Setters who got out to the early lead with a run in the top of the first. After that the bats from both sides remained quite for most of the game.
In the fourth inning, the Chargers added a run to tie the game. Harold kicked off the inning with a single to left field. She then swiped second and third. Nicole Downs (Seymour, Conn./Seymour) drove her in on a sacrifice fly. The Chargers accumulated a few more hits in the inning, but it was only Harold who managed to cross the plate.
The game remained tied 1-1 through the seventh inning, forcing an eighth.
After Gleason and the UNH defense shutdown Pace in the top of the eighth, the game was in the hands of the Charger bats to end it. Once again, it was Harold who sparked the offense with a single. In the next at bat, Downs connected for a hard hit ground ball to right field. The right fielder miss handled the ball, allowing the quick feet of Harold to motor around the bases and score the winning run.
Harold went 3-for-4, scoring both of the Charger runs.
Gleason went the distance on the mound, striking out nine, while allowing just one walk and five hits.
The Chargers return to the diamond with a doubleheader against American International on Wednesday. The first pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m. at the UNH Softball Field.
