BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2 BOX SCORE (vs. West Chester)
BOX SCORE (vs. Grand Valley State)

CLERMONT, Fla. - The University of New Haven softball team dropped a pair of games on opening day at the NTC Spring Games Saturday. In the season opener, the Chargers fell 1-2 to West Chester University (Pa.) before dropping a 0-10 decision to nationally ranked No. 21 Grand Valley State University.

Game One
In the opening game, West Chester took the early lead in the first inning when the Rams tallied an RBI on a double hit to center field. The Rams added to their lead in the second inning after a triple down the right field line allowed them to complete a suicide squeeze.  In the top of the third inning, Lucy Francisco (Lawrence, Mass./Lawrence ) singled to right field and advanced to second on a single, hit by Amy Nepi (New Castle, Del./St. Elizabeth ). The Chargers ended the inning following two running errors on the bases.

The Rams were unable to score after the first two innings. In the seventh inning, the Chargers started a rally after a freshman Gilly Childs (Los Angeles, Calif./Notre Dame Academy) tallied a walk.  Pinch runner Sadie Redman (Bangor, Maine/Bangor) advanced to third on two passed ball. Amy Nepi (New Castle, Del./St. Elizabeth ) tallied an RBI, scoring Redman on a single to centerfield.  Brandy Dianno (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) also singled to right field and advanced to second base while Nepi reached third.  The seventh inning rally ended when Lindsey Couturier (Dighton, Mass./Dighton Rehoboth Regional) ripped a line drive to the pitcher. 

Junior pitcher, Alana Wesche (Oxford, Conn./Naugatuck) suffered the loss after seven full innings on Saturday. She faced 26 batters, struckout five and allowed eight hits.

Game Two
Grand Valley State jumped to an early lead in the first inning on three walks, two hit-by-pitches and two errors committed by the Charger defense.  After the Lakers  tallied seven runs, junior pitcher Alana Wesche (Oxford, Conn./Naugatuck) entered the game, ending the inning after giving up a single to centerfield and a triple down the left field line.

The Chargers were unable to answer back at the plate throughout the game, collecting only one hit in the fifth inning when Shannon Angher singled to right center.  The Lakers collected three more runs before the game was called after five innings.

Kelsey Malloy (Clarksburg, Mass./Drury) suffered the loss after pitching the first inning. She gave up one seven runs, while facing nine batters, walking three, and striking out two. Alana Wesche (Oxford, Conn./Naugatuck) pitched the final four innings, striking out three, allowing one walk and three runs.

New Haven will return to action on Sunday, March 11 with a doubleheader against Northeast-10 Conference opponent Bentley University. The twin bill is set for 1 p.m. in Clermont, Fla.