WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Junior right fielder Tori Schiebe (Monroe, Conn./Masuk) combined for five RBI on the day as she led the New Haven softball team (13-5, 5-1 NE10) to a doubleheader sweep of the visiting No. 23 Adelphi Panthers on Wednesday afternoon. Schiebe closed out the afternoon with four total hits in six at bats.

Overall, five Chargers finished with multiple hits over the two games with sophomore third baseman Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) joining Schiebe in leading the way with four total, including a 3-for-4 performance in the opener. Senior Julie Devlin (Baldwin, N.Y./Northwood School) and junior Kristine Liptack (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) each finished with five hits, while Liptack added two RBI, one in each game. Freshman Alexandria Cunkle (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) rounded out the leaders at the plate with one hit in each game, and also driving in one run.

Both New Haven victories in the circle came as complete games for freshmen Megan Butts (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) and Kylie Stonebraker (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis High School). Butts pitched her eighth victory in the opener, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out a pair. Stonebraker's third victory of the season came as she allowed two runs on five hits, while retiring a team-high for the day of seven by way of strikeouts.

Game One Highlights

·         Schiebe drove in a pair of runs to lead the Chargers in the opening game as she set New Haven up for a comeback opportunity in the seventh inning for the divisional victory.  

·         Trailing 3-0, the Chargers mustered just their second hit of the afternoon when Luzzi led off the fourth inning with a single to center. Devlin followed with her first hit of the day, an infield single putting runners on first and second. After Luzzi stole third, Schiebe singled to second base to drive in her first run and put New Haven on the board.

·         The Blue and Gold pushed one more across in the sixth with Schiebe again driving in Luzzi who led off the frame with an infield single. A pair of groundouts pushed Luzzi to third where Schiebe drove her in with a single that landed just inside the third base chalk.

·         The seventh inning rally for New Haven all came with two outs. Catherine Vaughan (Commack, N.Y./Hauppauge) kicked the offense off with a one out double to right center field, while Cunkle followed with a single to left. A third straight batter, Marisa Colby, reached safely but erased the lead runner and left runners on the corners.

·         Luzzi followed with her third hit of the day, an infield single that she beat out diving into first base ahead of the throw. That play from Luzzi allowed Whitlock to score. A second straight hit, this one from Devlin, loaded the bases for Liptack. The junior infielder hit a weak ball to the space between short and third and Luzzi again beat out the play, sliding into third ahead of the throw over, which allowed the pinch runner at third, Madison Derosia (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) to score the game-winning run.

·         Overall, Luzzi led the Chargers bats in the opener with her three hits coming on four at bats, while she drove in one run and scored twice. The three hits for the sophomore third baseman were part of 10 total for New Haven as Devlin and Schiebe each added a pair of base knocks.

·         Freshman Megan Butts (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) picked up her team-leading eighth victory of the season with a complete game performance, her eighth in eight starts. Butts gave up three earned runs on eight total hits and a walk while striking out a pair of batters.

Game Two Highlights

·         Scoreless through the first three innings, New Haven broke the stalemate with a three run fourth inning with Schiebe adding to her RBI total on the day during the frame. The first run of the inning came courtesy of a bases loaded passed ball which allowed Luzzi to score from third. She originally reached base by floating a ball over the first baseman's head, securing her 10th straight game with at least one hit.

·         With Devlin and Liptack still in scoring position, Schiebe lifted her first hit of the game off the base of the fence in right center, easily allowing the two runners to score.

·         After surrendering the first run to the Panthers in the sixth inning, starting pitcher Kylie Stonebraker (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis High School) worked out of a pair of runners on base with one out as she struck out the final two batters, her sixth and seventh of the day.

·         In the bottom half of that inning, Schiebe again added to her line for the day as she took that run surrendered in the top half back, driving in Liptack on her second double of the day, again off the base of the fence in right center.

·         For the first time on the day, Schiebe had the favor returned as she would come around to score one more run in the sixth for the Chargers, being rewarded by Cunkle who singled to center.  

·         Stonebraker allowed one more run before earning her third victory of the season. Overall, she gave up five hits and walked two batters, one intentionally, while leading all pitchers on the day with her seven strikeouts.

·         Schiebe's two hits led seven total for the Blue and Gold as the remaining five all came from different players.

Next Up
New Haven returns to action in less than 24 hours when they host Nutmeg rival Post for a doubleheader at the New Haven softball field. First pitch in the opener against the Eagles is slated for 3:00 p.m.