GREENVILLE, Tenn. – The University of New Haven softball team closed out its Spring Break trip in the Volunteer State with a doubleheader split against the Tusculum Pioneers. The Chargers posted a 7-0 shutout in the opening game the pitching of sophomore Megan Butts (West Chester, Pa./Henderson), before dropping a 15-2 decision in five innings in the nightcap.

Three different players closed out the day leading the team with Jovanna Hillman (Seymour, Conn./Saint Joseph's), Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) and Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) all combining for three hits on the day. All three of Whitlock's hits came in the opening game, including a game-opening triple in the first inning. Both Hillman and Luzzi finished with one hit in the opening game and added two more in the second game.

Among the trio, Hillman led the way with three RBI, joined by freshman Melissa Bike (Trumbull, Conn./Saint Joseph) who drove in three runs on a bases clearing double in the opening game. Katrina Aponte (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley), Catherine Vaughan (Commack, N.Y./Hauppauge) and Luzzi also drove in runs for the Chargers, while Madison Derosia (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) and Bike combined to finish with two hits total on the day, one in each game.

In the circle, Butts gave up just four hits in her complete game shutout, improving to 3-3 on the season. She also struck out four batters. Kylie Stonebraker (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis High School) suffered the loss in the second game, allowing 11 runs, 10 of them earned, while surrendering 10 hits and walking three batters.

GAME ONE RECAP

Chargers managed extra base hits in each of the first and second innings, stranding both runners in scoring position. The first hit of the day came in the leadoff position from Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) who tripled to left center field to open of the contest. In the second inning, catcher Marissa Colby (Charlton, Mass./Shepherd Hill) double to right field with one out, but remained stranded at second. On the defensive side, Butts retired five of the first six batters she faced in order before surrendering her first hit of the day, a single. However, the threat from the Pioneers was quickly put ended when she forced the next batter into an infield groundout.

The Blue and Gold broke through in the top of the third inning as the first six batters in the frame all reached safely. Madison Derosia (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) began the rally when she reached on a fielding error at short stop. Whitlock followed that up with her second hit in as many at bats, her fifth straight at bat with a hit dating back to yesterday's game at Lincoln Memorial. With runners at first and second Alexa Hershberger (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata) continued to momentum when she reached on a fielder's choice bunt as both Derosia and Whitlock advanced safely with Hershberger loading the bases.

The next two batters provided the RBI's as Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) drove in Derosia with a single through the right side while Jovanna Hillman (Seymour, Conn./Saint Joseph's) followed with the third extra base hit of the day for New Haven, a double to right center that scored Whitlock and Hershberger. Hillman's hit also forced the Pioneers into their first pitching change of the afternoon.

The Chargers would add four more runs to the tally before the top of the third came to an end. Catherine Vaughn earned the fourth RBI of the frame when her second at bat of the day resulted in a walk that pushed Luzzi across the plate. Following that was the first three RBI of the season for freshman Melissa Bike (Trumbull, Conn./Saint Joseph) who smacked her second extra base hit of the season, a double to left center field that cleared the bases, scoring Cassidy Kirby (Orange, Conn./Amity Regional), Vaughn and Tori Schiebe (Monroe, Conn./Masuk).

Despite giving up a two-out triple in the third, Butts wouldn't need to work out of trouble until the fourth inning when the first two batters reached on singles. She forced the next two into fielder's choice groundouts that erased the lead runner and ended the threat on a strikeout, stranding the runners on first and second.

The Chargers threatened to add to their lead in the sixth inning, leaving the bases loaded. However, it was Butts who closed out the game, retiring the Pioneers in order in the fifth and sixth inning, and closing out the game despite a one-out baserunner that came on an error. Butts responded to that by dialing up her efforts and striking out the final two batters she faced to earn the victory.

GAME TWO RECAP

The Chargers would need to work from behind in the second game of the twin bill after allowing two runs each in the first and second innings. The Blue and Gold did threaten to plate their first run in the top of the second after Hillman led off the inning with a single and Bike added a one-out single up the middle. The pair would end the frame stranded at second and third after the Pioneers forced the final out via groundout.

After the Pioneers added one more run in the third, the Chargers broke up the shutout in the top of the fourth inning, pushing two runs across the plate. New Haven opened up the fourth inning with the first three batters all reaching on hits with the first an infield single from Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay), while she was able to advance into scoring position on a throwing error against the third baseman. On the next at bat, Luzzi was able to score from second thanks to a double down the right field line from Hillman. Hillman then wheeled around from second thanks to designated player Kat Aponte who reached on a single up the middle.

Tusculum responded to the Chargers first runs in the nightcap by putting the contest out of reach, pushing 10 runs across in the bottom of the fourth before stranding two Chargers on base in the top of the fifth in the comeback attempt.

UP NEXT

The Chargers will return to the Nutmeg State as they will make their second appearance of the season at the New Haven Softball field on Sunday when they host the East Coast Conference's LIU Post for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.