WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Behind a three-run third inning in game one and a strong performance in the circle in game two, the University of New Haven softball team (10-9, 3-1 NE10) completed its first doubleheader sweep in Northeast-10 play on Sunday afternoon taking a pair against the Bentley Falcons.

Both of the Chargers pitchers went the distance on Sunday with sophomore Megan Butts (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) earning her team-leading sixth victory of the season and classmate Kylie Stonebraker (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis High School) securing her fourth while recording nine strikeouts for the second straight day.

Offensively, junior shortstop Madison Derosia (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) led New Haven with a combined three hits on the day, two of which went for extra bases, while she also drove in a team-high three runs. Also combining for a pair of hits on the day was senior catcher and designated player Marisa Colby, junior right fielder Vanessa Strohm (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) and senior second baseman Tori Schiebe (Monroe, Conn./Masuk).

Overall, five different players were responsible for driving in the Chargers runs with Schiebe and senior first baseman Kristine Liptack (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) each joining Derosia with multiple RBI, knocking in a pair. Colby and Strohm also drove in one run apiece.

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

The Chargers would have to work from behind in the opening game after the Falcons broke the scoreless game in the second inning with an RBI single off the bat of Lindsey Allen. Overall, two of the Falcons four hits came in the second inning.

The Chargers would answer back in the bottom of the third, scoring all three of their runs in that frame. After a fly out opened up the inning, Derosia drilled her first double of the day over the head of the Bentley center fielder. That was followed up by a walk issued to Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) with Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) adding a single to load the bases with one out.

On the next at bat, Colby recorded the game's first RBI, while two runs total crossed the plate thanks to her at bat. Her fielder's choice to short stop allowed Derosia to score from third while the throw home form short was off the mark which allowed Whitlock to score on the error and left runners at second and third. Liptack followed that up by knocking in Luzzi on a groundout to short, adding the insurance run for the Chargers.

Butts would hold Bentley without a hit over the next three innings, while their only other base knock came with two outs in the seventh. However, Butts settled in after that hit and forced the final out by way of a groundout to third. Overall, Butts finished the game allowed one run on four hits with a pair of strikeouts while walking three batters.

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

In the second game, the Chargers offense fed off a strong start in the circle by Stonebraker who retired the first 12 batters she faced, including seven by way of a strikeout in the first three innings alone.

The Blue and Gold bats picked up in the second inning when Jovana Hillman led off the inning with a single to right field, the first of three hits in the inning. The first of three runs in that frame came on a fielder's choice with Strohm earning the RBI, while Derosia followed that up with her second double of the day driving in two runs for the 3-0 lead.

The Chargers broke the game open in their next half inning, pushing six runs across the plate all totaling to a 9-0 lead for the home team. Overall, New Haven mustered four hits in the inning with the biggest a double off the bat of Liptack that drove in the first run of the frame. Schiebe and Derosia would also pick up RBI's in the inning with Schiebe knocking in a pair of a single to center and Derosia pushing one across on a groundout to second.

New Haven added two more runs in the fourth inning taking advantage of a Bentley error and a wild pitch. The Falcons threatened to break up the shutout in the fifth inning, loading the bases before Stonebraker forced the final out on a foul fly ball to left field for the run-shortened victory.

UP NEXT

The Chargers will return to action on Tuesday afternoon when they host the Pace Setters for what is scheduled as a single game at the New Haven softball field. First pitch in the NE10 Southwest Division battle is slated for 3:00 p.m.