Box Score (Game One)
Box Score (Game Two)
WEST HAVEN, Conn. - The University of New Haven softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader to Caldwell College Wednesday afternoon at the UNH Softball Field. The Cougars won both games by just one run, 4-3 and 5-4. With the two losses, the Chargers fell to 13-7 on the season, while Caldwell improved to 7-13.
Game One
Four runs off five hits in the top of the second inning broke a 0-0 tie Wednesday afternoon. The Cougars scored all four runs with two outs, while three runs were scored off one double which fell just out of the reach of right fielder Shannon Angehr and second baseman Courtney Garland.
The Chargers then got one run on the board in the bottom of the second inning. Lindsey Couturier led off the inning with a double to center field, while Angehr drove in the Chargers first run later in the inning. The Chargers retired the side before adding their final two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Back-to-back singles to open the inning advanced runners to second and third bases. Allison Vaughn then stepped to the plate and drove in one run with a sacrifice fly to right field. Couturier then recorded a RBI of the game with a fielder's choice in the Chargers' next at-bat.
Each team left two runners on base in the final four inning as the Cougars secured the opening victory.
Sophomore Christina Gelardi led the Chargers with three hits in four at-bats. She also scored one run in the loss. Couturier went 2-for-3 at the plate and recorded one run and one RBI. Starting pitcher Alana Wesche suffered the loss, while Keri Tricinelli pitched five 1/3 shutout innings.
Game Two
Unlike the first game of the doubleheader, New Haven led for most of the second game. Couturier was the first to score in the game as she was driven home from second by Keri Tricinelli in the bottom of the second inning. Caldwell would answer with one run off one hit and an error in the top of the third inning.
Chelsea Harold then opened the Chargers' half of the fourth inning with an inside the park homerun to left center field. The senior rounded all three bases and slid into home as the ball made its way in from the outfield. The Chargers carried their 2-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth. The UNH bats came alive in the fourth with four hits, let by a one RBI single to center field by Brooke Fisher.
The Chargers held on to their 3-1 lead until the top of the sixth inning when the Cougars put togethers three hits with two UNH errors to score four runs to take a 5-3 lead. New Haven answered in the bottom of the innings as Amy Nepi drove in the Chargers fourth run. The Chargers left their sixth runner on base in the sixth inning as the Cougars recorded the third out.
Neither team scored in the final inning as Caldwell sealed the two-game sweep.
Tricinelli led the Chargers with three hits and one RBI in three at-bats. Couturier added two hits with one run in three hits. Harold added two hits with one RBI and one run. Micah Stonesifer pitched five 1/3 innings with six strikeouts and no earned runs.
The Chargers will return to action on Saturday, April 2 when they host Adelphi University at the UNH Softball Field. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
