SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The University of New Haven softball team completed the divisional sweep of American International College on Saturday with 12-2 and 6-0 victories at Groff Field in Springfield. New Haven improves to 12-4 overall and 4-2 in the Northeast-10 Conference.

A pair of Chargers finished with a combined four hits on the day with Kristine Liptack (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) and Tori Schiebe (Monroe, Conn./Masuk) each finishing with three hits in the opening game and one in game two. Liptack had the most power between the pair with a two run home run in game one and a two RBI triple in the second game. Schiebe picked up one extra base hit on the day with a double in the opening game, while also knocking in two run.

Senior Julie Devlin (Baldwin, N.Y./Northwood School) also finished a strong day with three total hits, while driving in three runs, two in the opening game and one in the second game. Her single RBI in game two came on a solo home run in the fifth inning that broke a scoreless draw and turned out to be the game-winning hit. Joining Devlin with three hits on the day was Jen Palase (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) and Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay), with the latter driving in four runs, including three in the opening game. Palase would also drive in two runs and scored four times, hitting in the lead off position in both games.  

Also among the leaders at the plate was Gabby DeLeo (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Hubert Catholic) who finished 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI in game one and Sierra Cardenales (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) who drilled a pinch hit two RBI double in the game one.

In the circle, seniors Nicole King (Front Royal, Va./Warren County) and Victoria Cabral (New Britain, Conn./Miss Porter's School / Hofstra) each pitched a complete game to earn the victory. King closed out the opener allowing the two runs, both unearned, on six hits and a pair of walks. She also struck out 13 batters, a season-best and tying her career-high. Cabral completed her second shutout of the season allowing two hits and walking one batter, while striking out seven.

New Haven struck early and often in game one, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first inning for a 2-0 lead that they would never relinquish. In that opening frame, Luzzi drove in the first run on a sacrifice fly, while Marissa Colby (Carlton, Mass./Shepherd Hill) drove in the second run on a single to right center. After AIC took one run back in its half of the first, the Chargers added another run in the third as Schiebe drove in what would eventually be the game-winning run on a single up the middle.

The Blue and Gold then put the game out of the Yellow Jackets reach in the sixth and seventh innings with three runs in the sixth and six runs in the seventh, resulting in a double digit lead. In the sixth DeLeo would pick up the first RBI on a double down the right field line, while Cardenales provided a pinch hit double to left center that also allowed two runs to score. In the seventh, Devlin, Luzzi and Liptack would all drive in two runs. Devlin and Luzzi's two RBI's came on singles, while Liptack had the most muscle of the inning with her first home run of the season.  

In game two, the two squads would trade four scoreless innings before Devlin broke the stalemate with her second home run in as many days, a solo shot with one out. The Chargers would break the game open in the seventh adding six more runs, while in the circle Cabral allowed just three Yellow Jackets to reach base.

In that final inning for UNH, the Chargers had six batters reach safely, three of which came on hits including a pair of triples. The first of those three-baggers came from Palase, extending her team-lead to five triples. That hit drove in two of the five runs, pushing DeLeo and Devlin across the plate. After Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) walked and Luzzi beat out an infield single, Liptack drilled her first triple of the season into right field scoring both runners. Luzzi also drove in a run on her single as that hit allowed Palase to score.

New Haven will return to the friendly confines of the UNH Softball Field on Wednesday when they host the Southern Connecticut. First pitch in what is slated for a doubleheader is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.