BOX SCORE GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - The seventhseeded University of New Haven softball team defeated second seed Adelphi University 5-4 Tuesday afternoon in the opening round of the Northeast-10 Conference Softball Championship tournament. The Chargers improved to 28-19 overall, while the Panthers dropped to 34-18-1 on the season.

With the win, the Chargers advance to the double elimination portion of the tournament and take on the winner of game three between Southern New Hampshire University and Assumption which takes place tomorrow in Worcester, Mass. The tournament will be hosted at top seed Southern Connecticut State University from Friday, April 27 to Sunday, April 29. New Haven's next game will take place at 12:30 p.m. on Friday at SCSU. See complete tournament schedule below.

The Chargers went down in the second inning, surrendering three runs in the bottom of the second inning. The Chargers left two runners on base in the third inning, but neither team added runs as the fourth inning began.

New Haven's first run was scored after Brooke Fisher (Erial, N.J./Camden Catholic) opened the fourth inning with a double to right center. Melanie Mayfield (Durham, N.C./Riverside) entered to run for Fisher and would eventually score off an error by the Panthers' second baseman, cutting the Panthers' lead to two runs. Adelphi loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth, but the Chargers got out of the inning, trailing 3-1.

After UNH left another two runners on base in the top of the inning, Adelphi scored the only run of the fifth with a solo homerun over the left center fence to take a 4-1 lead. The Chargers base runners continued into the top of the sixth inning as the first two batters got on base. Amy Nepi (New Castle, Del./St. Elizabeth ) walked to load the bases with one out. Shannon Angehr (Levittown, N.Y./Division Avenue ) then stepped to the plate with two outs and hit the game-tying single to right center. The bases cleared and the game was tied at 4-4. UNH then retired the side in the bottom of the sixth and went to the second all tied up.

Lindsey Couturier (Dighton, Mass./Dighton Rehoboth Regional) opened the seventh with a walk and the Chargers go-ahead runner was on base. Freshman Jess Spivey (Holland, Pa./Council Rock) later put down a sacrifice bunt to advance Fisher and pinch runner Brenna Weidman (Holliston, Mass./Holliston / Utica College) into scoring position. Sadie Redman (Bangor, Maine/Bangor) was then hit by a pitch and the bases were loaded for Gilly Childs (Los Angeles, Calif./Notre Dame Academy). The freshman singled up the middle and drove in the game-winning run from third base. Back-to-back fly outs and the game headed into the bottom of the seventh.

Adelphi managed two base runners, but a line-drive double play to second base ended the game and earned the Chargers a spot in the weekend championship tournament.

Angehr went 3-for-3 with three RBIs in the win. Redman went 2-for-3 at the plate with one run and Sprivey went 1-for-3 with one run as well. Kelsey Malloy (Clarksburg, Mass./Drury) earned the victory in five 2/3 innings. She threw three strikeouts and allowed one run.

The Chargers, currently on a five-game win streak, are the hottest team in the conference tournament. They advance to take on the winner of No. 6 Southern New Hampshire and No. 3 Assumption on Friday at 12:30 p.m. Stay posted to www.NewHavenChargers.com for complete coverage leading up to the championship tournament.

2012 Northeast-10 Softball Championship Schedule

First Round (Single Elimination)
Tuesday, April 24
Game 1: No. 1 Southern Connecticut def. No. 8 Stonehill, 4-3 (10 innings)
Game 2: No. 7 New Haven def. No. 2 Adelphi, 5-4
Wednesday, April 25
Game 3: No. 6 Southern New Hampshire at No. 3 Assumption – 2:00 p.m.
Game 4: No. 5 UMass Lowell at No. 4 Le Moyne – 2:00 p.m.

Championship Tournament  - at Southern Connecticut State (Double Elimination)
Friday, April 27
Game 5: No. 1 Southern Connecticut vs. Game 4 winner – 10:00 a.m.
Game 6: No. 7 New Haven vs. Game 3 winner – 12:30 p.m.
Game 7: Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser – 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 28
Game 8: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner – 1:00 p.m.
Game 9: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 29
Game 10: Game 9 winner vs. Game 8 winner – 11:00 a.m.
Game 11: If Necessary – 30 minutes after conclusion of Game 10