Box Score

WEST HAVEN, Conn. - The University of New Haven softball team defeated Georgian Court University 8-0 in six innings Friday afternoon in the opening round of the 2010 NCAA Division II East Region Softball Championship on the UNH campus. The Chargers improve to 39-8 overall with the win and now advance to take on the winner of game two, (4) Southern Connecticut State University 11 a.m. on Saturday.

The Chargers wasted no time getting right on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning. The UNH defense retired the side in the top of the first before the offense rattled off two hits and scored three runs. Chelsea Harold (Oxford, Conn./Seymour ) immediately put a runner on base as she knocked an infield hit to the shortstop. She then stole second base and Christina Gelardi (Derby, Conn./Derby) followed with a walk. Reigning Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year, Breanne Gleason (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Central ) laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Senior Nicole Downs (Seymour, Conn./Seymour) stepped to the plate and gave the Chargers their first two runs with a long double to right field. Downs later scored on a throwing error to give the Chargers a 3-0 lead.

A line out, foul out and a strike out ensued in the top of the second inning, while the Chargers added three more in the bottom of the second inning. UNH loaded the bases with one out bringing senior Meghan Walter (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore ) to the plate. Walter drove in another two runs with a single to right field. Downs once again scored to give the Chargers a 6-0 lead after two innings off a passed ball.

In the third inning, much like the previous two innings, the Chargers retired the first three batters. UNH left one runner on base off one hit in the bottom of the third.

Georgian Court's first hit came in the fourth inning when they pop a single over the reach of shortstop, Gelardi. The next two batters were retired as the Charger held on to a 6-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth. No runs, no hits and no runners left on base for the Chargers in the bottom of the fourth as well.

The Lions managed two base runners in the fifth inning, after a walk and hit by pitch. Gleason managed to get out of the inning with a swinging strikeout on the next batter. The UNH half of the fifth inning ensued with three hits, one run and two runners on base. The Lions managed one base runner in the top of the sixth off an error, while the Chargers walk-off single in the bottom of the sixth came from Walter through the left side. Gelardi scored the game-winner.

Walter led the team with three RBI's off three hits. Downs added two RBI's and two runs off one hit. Gelardi scored three runs, while Harold added two runs.

Gleason pitched her 34th win of the season in the complete game shutout. She hurled seven strikeouts and allowed just one hit and one walk.

The Chargers now advance in the winner's bracket to take on cross-town rival and fourth seed Southern Connecticut State University at 11 a.m. on Saturday. The winning team will advance directly to the Sunday East Region (1) Championship game, while the loser with take on the winner of Caldwell and Georgian Court at 4:00 p.m.