MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The University of New Haven softball team opened up the 2018 season with two tough tests on Friday at the Snowbird Freeze Out, first taking on No. 16 West Chester in game one and finishing off the day against Kutztown in non-conference games. The Chargers ran away with an 8-3 win over the Golden Rams in the opener, and fell to Kutztown, 9-4 in game two.
 
Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) had a solid day at the plate, scattering four hits with one double and three RBI. Freshman Jovanna Hillman (Seymour, Conn./Saint Joseph's) was a threat all day long at the plate, going 3-for-6 with four RBI. Hillman launched her first two collegiate home runs, the first a three-run shot to left center field in game one and later adding a solo home run over the left field fence. Senior Tori Schiebe (Monroe, Conn./Masuk) had a day at the plate with three hits, and freshman Alexa Hershberger (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata) started her career off strong with two hits, one for extra bases, with two RBI and two runs scored.
 
GAME ONE: New Haven 8, West Chester 3
 
New Haven put three runners on base in the top of the second inning, but could not produce a run to jump out to the early lead. After a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the second with three-straight ground outs, New Haven started the third back at the top of the order with Whitlock singling to the shortstop and advancing on a Golden Ram throwing error. Hershberger got her first career hit, advancing Whitlock to third. The Chargers then caused havoc on the base paths with senior Kristine Liptack (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) reaching on a sacrifice bunt, scoring Hershberger and Whitlock to get the 2-0 lead.
 
West Chester loaded the bases in the bottom of the third and scored on a single with one out, however Butts pitched herself out of the jam, retiring the next two batters. West Chester caught up again in the third with two more runs, but New Haven did major damage in the top of the fifth to stretch the Charger lead out to five runs. Hershberger was hit by a pitch to start off the inning before Liptack moved her over with a deep ground ball to the shortstop. Hillman stepped up to the plate two batters later and got hold of an inside pitch on a 1-2 count, lining the ball over the left center fence to re-gain the lead, 5-3.
 
New Haven wasn't done with Schiebe kept the rally going with a double to left center and sophomore Catherine Vaughan (Commack, N.Y./Hauppauge) drawing a walk on the next at bat, forcing a West Chester pitching change. Freshman Katrina Aponte (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) drew a walk as New Haven loaded the bases once again, this time with Whitlock clearing the bases on a double to left field, however was thrown out at third base to end the inning.
 
Returning NE10 Rookie of the Year, sophomore Megan Butts (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) got her first win of the season in the circle, tossing a complete game while scattering six hits and one earned run.
 
GAME TWO: Kutztown 9, New Haven 4
 
Whitlock continued producing in the leadoff spot, getting things started with a single to center field and stealing second base. After Hershberger advanced Whitlock to third, Whitlock scored on a wild pitch to grab a 1-0 lead in the first. New Haven extended that lead in the top of the fourth when Hillman hit her second long-ball of the day, a solo shot to left field on another inside pitch while down in the count. After shutting out Kutztown in the first three innings, the Golden Bears got on the scoreboard with six runs in the bottom of the fourth.
 
New Haven chipped back into the lead in the top of the fifth, as Hershberger doubled to left center and advanced to third to plate Whitlock and Strohm, trimming the Golden Bear lead to 6-4. Kutztown answered in the sixth with three more runs on two-straight doubles, capping off the Golden Bear victory.
 
Sophomore Kylie Stonebraker (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis High School) got the start in the circle, suffering the loss with 3.1 innings pitched and one strikeout.
 
UP NEXT:

Softball gets back into action tomorrow, first with a double header against CACC opponent, Georgian Court before taking on No. 17 Molloy at 2:00 pm.