Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Sophomore Christina Gelardi drove in seven runs on Saturday afternoon, as the University of New Haven softball team took two games from Adelphi University at the UNH Softball Field. The Chargers captured game one by the final score of 5-1 and completed the sweep with a 10-2 victory through six innings in game two. UNH improved to 15-6 on the season and 5-1 in the Northeast-10 Conference.
Game One
Game one of the doubleheader featured a fast start for the home team. Chelsea Harold led off the bottom of the first with an infield single and reached third on a throwing error. Christina Gelardi drove in Harold with an infield single to give the Chargers an early 1-0 lead.
In the third inning, New Haven collected the game’s second run on another RBI single. This time, Lindsey Couturior pushed the run across on a shot up the middle to bring Brandy Dianno around for a 2-0 advantage.
Adelphi got one back in the fifth inning, but the Chargers answered with a three-run bottom half to take a 5-1 lead. Gelardi knocked a two-run single for the first two runs and Couturior closed the scoring summary with an RBI single to left field.
The four run lead was more than enough for pitchers Alana Wesche and Kerri Tricinelli, as the two combined to allow just one run over seven innings. Wesche took the decision, collecting her seventh win of the season. Tricinelli was credited with her first save of the campaign.
Game Two
In the second game of the afternoon, the Chargers garnered a quick lead on a sacrifice fly by Tricinelli in the bottom of the first inning. Brandy Dianno, Christina Gelardi and Lindsay Couturior each drew walks to load the bases and Tricinelli laced a long fly ball to left field for the game’s first run.
The Panthers had an answer in the second frame though, as Jeanine Leo connected for a two-run homerun, granting Adelphi a 2-1 lead. Paige Rhodes was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning and score on the play.
However, in the bottom of the frame, the Chargers battled back with a four-run outburst to regain the lead. Shannon Angehr opened the scoring with a homerun to left field and then Gelardi pushed three more across the dish with a long three-run shot for a 5-2 advantage.
New Haven kept the bats hot in the next inning as well, tacking on three more runs. Angehr collected two more RBI on a base-hit up the middle and Gelardi lined a single for the third run of the inning. The Chargers captured a commanding 8-2 lead.
UNH added one more in the fourth and then enforced the mercy rule in the sixth with a single from Lucy Francisco to solidify the 10-2 victory. Tricinelli and Micah Stonesifer combined to pitch six innings, allowed two runs on two hits and struck out eight in the contest. Stonesifer was credited with her seventh win of the campaign.
The Chargers return to action tomorrow, April 3 with a doubleheader at Pace University. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. in Pleasantville, N.Y.
