GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – Freshman third baseman Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) drove in a career-high five runs as she led the University of New Haven softball team in an 8-3 win over the Adelphi Panthers in game two of a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon. New Haven dropped the opening game by a 5-0 decision. With the doubleheader split, the Chargers stand at 21-11 overall and 10-8 in the Northeast-10.
Luzzi's five RBI in game two came on a 3-of-4 performance at the plate, leading the Blue and Gold on the day. Two of her three hits in the game went for extra bases including her third double of the season and her second home run, a two run bomb in the sixth inning.
Also among the leaders for New Haven was second baseman Gabby DeLeo (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Hubert Catholic) and left fielder Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) who each finished with a pair of hits combined over the doubleheader, one in each game. Luzzi's two extra base hits were the only of the day for multiple bases among 11 total hits combined over the two games.
In the circle, seniors Victoria Cabral (New Britain, Conn./Miss Porter's School / Hofstra) and Nicole King (Front Royal, Va./Warren County) split the decisions with Cabral earning the victory in game two and King suffering the loss in the opener. The pair also combined for 11 total strikeouts, with King leading the duo with six punch outs.
The Chargers will return to work in less than 24 hours when they host the Franklin Pierce Ravens for a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at the UNH Softball Field. The twin bill against the NE-10 foe is a rescheduled doubleheader from an earlier date. First pitch in the conference battle is slated for 3:00 p.m.
GAME ONE RECAP
The Chargers finished with just two hits in the opening game as DeLeo and Whitlock were the only two players to get to the Panthers Lindsay Mapes. Both of the New Haven hits were singles, while in total, the Chargers stranded five runners on base.
Suffering the loss in the circle was King (7-6) who pitched her 10th complete game of the season. In six innings of work, King allowed five runs, three of which were earned, on five hits and four walks. She also struck out a game-high six batters.
The Panthers scored what would amount to the game-winning run in the first inning, scoring on a bases loaded fielder's choice play as the Chargers looked to turn a double play. Adelphi added three more runs in the third with their final tally coming in the fourth inning.
New Haven's biggest threat came in the third inning when DeLeo led off the frame with the Chargers first hit of the afternoon, an infield single. Julie Devlin (Baldwin, N.Y./Northwood School) followed that by reaching safely on an error on a sacrifice bunt attempt. Mapes would settle in to retire the next three batters on a strikeout and a pair of popups, ending the threat herself on a pop fly back to her.
The Chargers looked to threaten again in the seventh after Sierra Cardenales (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) led off the inning working a walk. The runner would close out the game stranded at second after Mapes forces a groundout and struck out the final two batters of the game.
GAME TWO RECAP
The Chargers got on the board early in game two, never facing a deficit en route to an 8-3 victory. Overall, New Haven finished with nine hits from seven different players, led by Luzzi who finished with a game-high three hits, the most by any player on the day.
Among Luzzi's three hits were a pair of extra base knocks, a double and a home run with her yard ball tying her for the team lead with two total for the season. The freshman third baseman also drove in a career-high five runs, her fifth game of the season with two or more RBI.
DeLeo and sophomore Tori Schiebe (Monroe, Conn./Masuk) also drove in runs for the Chargers with DeLeo providing one of the Blue and Gold's remaining six hits.
In the circle, Cabral earned her team-leading 14th victory of the season with a complete-game outing. For the game, the senior hurler gave up three earned runs on six hits and eight walks. She also struck out five batters.
