GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – Freshman Catherine Vaughn ignited a flurry of hits in the second game, finishing with three in four total at bats, while driving in a season-high for all players of five runs, leading the New Haven softball team (8-4, 1-1 NE10) to an 11-3 five inning victory over the Adelphi Panthers. Adelphi won the opening game by an 11-3 score in six innings for a Northeast-10 Conference split with the Chargers.

Overall, Vaughn and junior Marisa Colby finished four hits each combined over the doubleheader, with Colby finishing the opening game a perfect 3-of-3 with a double and an RBI. Among Vaughn's three hits in the second game was her first collegiate home run, a grand slam that provided the eight run lead the Chargers needed to close out the contest.

Following Vaughn and Colby in leading the offense was sophomore Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) who finished with a combined three hits, including a double while driving in two runs. Colby and Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) also finished with a pair of RBI, while three other Chargers, Tori Schiebe (Monroe, Conn./Masuk), Kristine Liptack (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) and Julie Devlin (Baldwin, N.Y./Northwood School), all finished with two hits apiece.

In the circle, freshman Megan Butts (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) continued her impressive starting with her fifth complete game in as many outings, keeping her record spotless, earning her fifth victory in game two. Overall, Butts gave up three earned runs, allowing five hits in five innings of work. She also struck out three. Fellow classmate, Kylie Stonebraker (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis High School) suffered the loss in the opener, allowing nine runs, seven of them earned, on nine hits in four innings of work.

Game One Highlights

·         New Haven would be the first to put a notch on the scoreboard for the day, scoring an unearned run in the top of the second inning. Senior second baseman Gabby DeLeo (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Hubert Catholic) provided the RBI in the inning when her single to left field with two outs drove in catcher Erin Stever (Parish, N.Y./Altmar Parish Williamstown) who reach on a fielder's choice.

·         The Panthers would go on to score six unanswered points before the Chargers cut the Adelphi advantage in half in the top of the fifth inning with a pair of runs. However, Adelphi continued their scoring streak with at least two runs over four straight innings leading to the six inning victory.

·         The Chargers two runs in the fifth came on back-to-back doubles from Colby and Luzzi. Vaughn led off the inning with a single through the left side before a fielder's choice allowed Whitlock to take her spot at first. After swiping second base, Whitlock score on the first two-base hit from Colby, while Luzzi drove in Alexandria Cunkle (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) who came in to run for Colby.

·         Overall, New Haven finished with nine hits in the opening, a third of which came on Colby's team-leading three. First baseman, Liptack added was the only other Charger to finish with a multi-hit game with a pair of hits in three at bats. The remaining four hits all came from different players.

·         Stonebraker started her fourth game of the season fifth game of the season, giving up nine runs, seven earned, on nine hits in her fourth loss of the season. Alyssa Monteverde (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) pitched 2.1 innings for New Haven, giving up two earned runs on three hits and four walks. The pair combined for two strikeouts in the contest.

Game Two Highlights

·         New Haven's bats wasted no time getting to work in game two as the Chargers plated four runs in the opening frame. The first four batters reached safely for New Haven, three on hits and the fourth on a walk as the Chargers sent 10 to the plate in the first inning. Colby would drive in her first run of the contest when her single through the left side allowed Vaughn to score from third.

·         Stever and Whitlock would also drive in runs in the inning with Stever's coming as she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

·         After the Panthers cut their deficit back to one run, New Haven padded its lead with a single run in the second and two more in the third to take a 7-3 advantage. Luzzi would pick up the RBI in the second inning as she drove in Devlin who doubled to right center, her second straight two base hit.

·         In the third inning Whitlock picked up another RBI when her first hit of the game went for two bases and allowed Schiebe to score from first base. Whitlock would be rewarded on the next at bat as Vaughn drove her across the plate on a single up the middle.

·         After a scoreless fourth inning for both teams, the Chargers pushed their lead to eight with one swing of the bat in the fifth inning, a grand slam from the rookie left fielder Vaughn. The Chargers would bat around for the second time in the game in the fifth inning with the first home run of Vaughn's collegiate career driving in Schiebe, DeLeo and Whitlock.

·         Overall, Vaughn's three team-leading three hits were part of 10 total for the Chargers, while she was joined by Devlin and Luzzi who each closed out a multi-hit contest. Whitlock added a pair of RBI in the game, while three others also drove in runs.

·         Butts capped off her fifth complete game victory, in as many attempts, allowing three earned runs on five total hits, while striking out three batters.

Next Up
New Haven returns to its West Haven campus for its next doubleheader, a pair of NE10 contests against the visiting Saint Anselm Hawks. The twinbill between the conference rivals is scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. first pitch on Saturday, March 25.