BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2 TUCSON, Ariz. - The University of New Haven softball team dropped a pair of games Saturday afternoon at the NFCA Division II Leadoff Classic in Arizona. The Chargers fell 11-7 to nationally ranked No. 22 Abilene Christian University in their first game of the day and dropped the final game of the round robin portion of the tournament 6-3 to Nova Southeastern University.

New Haven dropped to 1-3 on the season with the two setbacks. The Chargers move on to the final day of the tournament and wait for remaining results to see who their opponents are tomorrow. For complete details, stay posted to NewHavenChargers.com.

GAME ONE vs. Abilene Christian
UNH went run-for-run with the No. 22 Wildcats in the first two innings. The bottom of the third was the deciding inning as ACU hammered in seven runs in the inning.

The Chargers responded with three in the top of the fourth, narrowing the lead to 9-5. Abilene Christian added two in the bottom of the sixth and UNH rallied with two in the top of the seventh. The comeback fell short and the Chargers suffered their second loss of the weekend.

Keri Tricinelli (Brick, N.J./Monsignor Donovan) went 2-for-3 at the plate, driving in two runs. Christina Gelardi (Derby, Conn./Derby) also drove in a pair of runs off two hits in four at-bats. Brandy Dianno (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) scored two and recorded two hits, and Lucay Francisco tallied one hit, one run and one RBI. Freshman Jen Palase (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) also went 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run. 

Ashley Chasse (East Hampton, Conn./East Hampton) suffered the loss in the circle, pitching two full innings and surrendering three earned runs. Brittany Scott (Buena, N.J./Buena Regional) appeared in relief for four innings, struck out three and gave up no earned runs.

As a team, the Chargers out-hit ACU 13-8, but eight defensive errors proved crucial in the loss.

GAME TWO vs. Nova Southeastern
New Haven jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two innings against the Sharks. In the bottom of the first Gelardi scored on an error and in the bottom of the second Courtney Reed (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) scored after a foul out to the catcher.  The Sharks eventually took the lead in the top of the fourth inning with a grand slam.

NSU held on to the lead, improving the spread to four in the top of the fifth inning with a pair of runs. The Chargers left two runners on base in the bottom of the fifth and came to the plate in the bottom of the seven trailing 6-2. Francisco provided a spark with a two-out solo homerun over the left field fence, but the rally fell short. 

Nova Southeastern held an 8-4 lead in hits and the Chargers committed only one error in game two of the day. 

Freshman starting pitcher Nicole King (Front Royal, Va./Warren County) suffered the loss in 4 2/3 innings. She gave up six earned runs and fanned five. Scott appeared in 2 1/3 innings with two strikeouts and no runs.

Francisco led the Charger bats with one hit, one RBI and one run. Lindsey Couturier (Dighton, Mass./Dighton Rehoboth Regional) added a RBI and Reed added a run for the Chargers.