GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – Senior Julie Devlin (Baldwin, N.Y./Northwood School) smacked her fourth home run of the season over the left field fence in her first at bat of the game to lead the University of New Haven softball team in a 9-3 loss to Wilmington. With the defeat, the Chargers 2017 campaign comes to a close with a 30-16 record, the first 30 win season since 2013.

Devlin was one of two players to drive in runs on the day, joined by third baseman Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) whose double to left field in the third inning drove in Devlin to know the game at two. Luzzi would then score what at the time was a go-ahead run when she took advantage of a throwing error attempting to get her out at third.

As a team, New Haven finished with four hits total, all of which came from different players as second baseman Gabriella DeLeo and sophomore Vanessa Strohm (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) who singled in a pinch hit at bat in the seventh inning. DeLeo's hit, a single up the middle, came in the fifth inning, however she would remain stranded at third to end the inning.

In the circle, freshman Kylie Stonebraker (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis High School) suffered the loss, allowing five of the Wildcats runs on four hits while walking seven batters and striking out seven. Stonebraker pitched a total of 5.1 innings, broken up by a relief appearance from classmate Megan Butts (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) who threw an inning and two-thirds. Butts would be tagged with allowing four runs on three hits and a pair of walks.

Highlights

·         Facing an early one run deficit, Devlin gave notice during her first at bat, just the second at bat of the season, when she lifted her seventh pitch over the left field fence to knot the game at one.

·         After the Wildcats matched that performance with a solo shot in the second inning, the Chargers took their first lead of the day thanks to a pair of runs in the third inning. Devlin started the rally off when she was hit by a pitch with two outs in the frame. Luzzi followed with a double to left center that rolled to the fence allowing Devlin to score from first. Luzzi would then take advantage of a throwing error by the shortstop as the Wildcats tried to erase her from the base paths, but the errant throw rolled into the dugout allowing Luzzi to score unchallenged.

·         Wilmington responded to that rally by New Haven by scoring three runs in the top of the fourth, all of which came with two outs in the books.

·         The Chargers then threatened in the fifth inning when the senior second baseman, DeLeo, led off the frame with a single up the middle. After catcher Samantha Errera (Sweetwater, N.J./Cedar Creek) sacrificed herself to advance DeLeo, she was able to advance to third on a groundout by Whitlock. Following a walk issued to Devlin, the pair were stranded on the corners as the Wildcats forced a groundout to end the threat, despite a diving attempt by Luzzi to beat the throw from third.

·         Wilmington then broke open the game with a four run sixth inning, while the Chargers would muster a pair of runners in the sixth and seventh but were unable to capitalize on the offensive end.