WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The University of New Haven softball team opened up its Northeast-10 Conference schedule splitting a doubleheader against the Southern New Hampshire Penmen on Saturday afternoon at the UNH Softball Field. The Chargers opened up the day with a thrilling 3-2 win before falling in game two, 3-0. The Blue and Gold stand at 9-3 overall in 2016 with a 1-1 record in conference play.

Leading the New Haven bats for the day was sophomore catcher Marissa Colby (Carlton, Mass./Shepherd Hill) who finished a combined 3-of-7, including driving in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning in game one. Colby closed out the opening game with one hit, but that one hit took a well-timed bounce and sailed over the third basemen's head allowing freshman Madison Derosia (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) to score from third after starting the inning on second.

Also leading the Chargers at the plate was senior outfielder Jen Palase (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) who finished a perfect 3-of-3 with a triple in the opening game. Freshman third baseman Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) also hit well in the first game of the day as she finished 2-of-4 at the plate with a pair of RBI.

In the circle, senior Victoria Cabral (New Britain, Conn./Miss Porter's School / Hofstra) took home the decision in both games. She came out of the bullpen in the ninth inning in the opening game and pitched the final 2.3 innings without allowing a hit. In game two, Cabral pitched a complete outing and allowed the three runs, one earned, on six hits and a pair of walks. She also struck out three batters. Nicole King (Front Royal, Va./Warren County) started for the Blue and Gold in game one, pitching 8.1 innings and allowing the two runs, one earned, on five hits and three walks. She also struck out nine batters.

In the opening game, the Penmen got on the board first with a single run in the fifth inning before New Haven answered right back by scoring a pair in the bottom half of that frame. Palase led off the rally for the Chargers by dropping her third hit of the afternoon into center field. Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) worked a walk in the next at bat and both runners advanced into scoring position thanks to a sacrifice bunt from Kristine Liptack (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull). Luzzi responded with a single to center field that allowed both runners to score and the Chargers to erase the deficit.

The Penmen tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning and threatened to score the go ahead run in the 10th and 11th innings. In the top of the 11th, the Chargers faced a bases loaded with no outs scenario, working out of trouble by forcing a shallow fly to center, a force out at home and a force out at third to end the threat. Luzzi would provide the heroics to end the inning, diving back to the third base just in time to beat of the runner for the force out.

In the bottom half of the 11th, the Chargers would begin with Derosia on second, pinch running for Liptack. A well placed sacrifice by Luzzi allowed Derosia to advance to third with one out. After a ground out to shortstop stranded the runner, Colby drilled a shot down the line took a tough bounce over the head of the third baseman, allowing Derosia to score the game-winning tally.

In game two, the Penmen again got on the board first, scoring all three of their runs in the third inning, thanks in part to a pair of miscues on the Chargers defense. New Haven threatened to cut into the lead in the bottom of the fifth after a leadoff double to left field from Colby. Despite one other hit in the inning, the Chargers stranded the runners on the corners.

New Haven again threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning after Whitlock worked a leadoff walk. A hit batter and a second walk, both with one out, would load the bases for the Chargers, but SNHU's Nicole Gubellini would force a pair of infield pop ups to end the UNH threat.

Due to a forecast of inclement weather on Sunday, the Chargers scheduled doubleheader against Franklin Pierce has been postponed. New Haven will return to action on Tuesday (March 22) afternoon when they host the Pace Setters for a single game. First pitch at the UNH Softball Field is slated for 4:00 p.m.