MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The University of New Haven softball team used a seven-run sixth inning to take its opening game of the day at the Snowbird Freezeout, downing the Merrimack Warriors 7-3 on Saturday.
 
New Haven trailed 2-0 heading into the sixth when the offense exploded.  With one out Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) got things started with a single. After Tori Schiebe (Monroe, Conn./Masuk) was hit by a pitch, Marissa Colby (Carlton, Mass./Shepherd Hill) singled to bring home Luzzi. With runners on second and third, the Warriors' catcher made a snap throw to try to pick Schiebe off. The ball bounced into leftfield, scoring a run and moving Colby to third. Gabby DeLeo (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Hubert Catholic) singled to plate Colby and put the Chargers up 3-2.
 
The Blue and Gold wasn't done as following a single by Julie Devlin (Baldwin, N.Y./Northwood School), Jen Palase (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) tripled over the head of the rightfielder, scoring DeLeo and Devlin to make it 5-2. Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) grounded a ball to the mound. After the pitcher looked the runner back to third, her throw to first was high and rolled down the rightfield line, bringing home Palase and moving Whitlock to third. Kristine Liptack (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) capped the scoring with a sac fly to plate the final run and move New Have up 7-2. Merrimack would get a run in the seventh to cement the final score.
 
Victoria Cabral (New Britain, Conn./Miss Porter's School / Hofstra) picked up the win in relief, authoring the final 4.1 innings, not allowing a hit and striking out three.