GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) drove in the lone Chargers run on a fielder's choice in the fifth inning, but the University of New Haven softball team (30-15) dropped a 3-1 decision to the fifth seeded Mercy Mavericks in the opening game of the NCAA Division II East Region Championship. The Chargers will now play Wilmington in an elimination game slated for a 1:30 p.m. first pitch.

As a team, New Haven finished with four hits total, all of which came from different players and all going for a single base. Joining Whitlock with a base knock on the day was seniors Julie Devlin (Baldwin, N.Y./Northwood School) and Gabriella DeLeo and junior Kristine Liptack (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull).

In the circle, freshman Megan Butts (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) suffered the loss, allowing all three of the Mavericks runs, with only one earned, while surrendering four hits total. Butts pitched the first 3.2 innings without issuing a walk and striking out one batter. Classmate Kylie Stonebraker (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis High School) closed out the game for the Chargers, pitching three-and-a-third scoreless innings. The Mavericks would must a pair of hits and a pair of walks off Stonebraker while striking out four batters.

Highlights

·         New Haven threatened right out of the gate when they had runners on the corners with one out in the inning. Devlin started off the rally with a single up the middle and after swiping second base on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a miscue by the Mavericks that allowed Luzzi to reach safely.

·         Mavericks starter McKailey Cusumano worked out of the trouble by striking out the next two batters to preserve the early scoreless draw.

·         Mercy broke up the stalemate in the third inning with the longest hit of the afternoon, a three-bagger from Skania Lemus that drove in the first run of the day. The Mavericks would add two more runs in the fourth inning on a New Haven fielding error.  

·         Despite singles in the second and third innings, the Chargers couldn't manage to muster a runner in scoring position until the fifth inning when Madison DeRosia who was pinch running advanced on a sacrifice and a wild pitch setting her up at third with one out. Whitlock wouldn't waste the opportunity as she was able to drive in DeRosia on a fielder's choice as she beat out the double play attempt.

·         Stonebraker would work out of scoring opportunities for the Mavericks in the sixth and seventh innings setting New Haven up with a comeback opportunity.

·         The Chargers were able to get a pair of runners on base safely but Cusumano finished off the complete game forcing Whitlock into an infield groundout as she slid into first in an attempt to beat out the throw.

Next Up
With the loss, New Haven falls into the bottom half of the bracket and will now face Wilmington in an elimination game at 1:30 p.m. at Adelphi's Ficke Field. The winner of that elimination game will then turn around and play a second elimination game against the loser of Friday's first match-up between Adelphi and Mercy. That final game on Friday is scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. first pitch.