WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The University of New Haven softball team (10-10, 3-2 NE10) dropped its first Northeast-10 Conference divisional match-up of the season, falling in a single game against the Pace Setters 5-4. Leading the Chargers on the day was junior shortstop Madison Derosia (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) who finished the afternoon with two RBI thanks to her second home run of the season.
Derosia was one of eight different players to hit safely in the game, led by junior third baseman Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) who completed the only multi-hit outing of the day, finishing 2-for-3 at the plate. Joining Derosia in driving in runs for the Chargers was senior second baseman Tori Schiebe (Monroe, Conn./Masuk) who sacrificed herself for a run in the fourth and senior first baseman Kristine Liptack (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) who drove in a run on a two-out double to right center.
Suffering the loss in the circle was sophomore Megan Butts (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) who gave up five runs, four of which were earned, surrendering 10 total hits. Butts, who pitched a complete game for the Blue and Gold, also struck out four batters and walked a pair.
The Chargers took the early lead of the day, plating a single run in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a two-out RBI double off the bat of Liptack. Her team-leading sixth double of the season rolled to the fence in right center, easily allowing junior Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) to score from third after originally working a lead-off walk.
Pace opened up its scoring with a two-run single in the third inning, erasing the deficit and taking its first lead of the game thanks to designated player Jillian Gartner whose line drive to left field was misplayed allowing the second run to score. The Setters added an additional run in the fourth inning on a deep double to left center that allowed the runner to score from first.
New Haven didn't let that deficit last very long pushing three runs across in the bottom of the fourth with the first on a sacrifice off the bat of Schiebe. That fly ball to center scored Cassidy Kirby (Orange, Conn./Amity Regional) who pinch ran for the Blue and Gold's designated player Jovanna Hillman (Seymour, Conn./Saint Joseph's) who narrowly missed her fifth home run of the season, ricocheting a shot off the top of the fence.
With the bases empty and two outs following Schiebe's sacrifice, left fielder Catherine Vaughn answered with an infield single that eluded the diving attempt at third base. That brought the nine-hole hitter to the plate, Derosia, who drilled her second home run of the season, a two-shot blast over the fence in left field providing a 4-3 lead for the home team.
Pace answered in the top of the fifth when with one out, the next three batters reached safely, the third of which came on a single to left that scored the Setters Gartner from second base as she eluded the tag off a well-placed throw from left field. Following that hit, the Setters looked to be in business with runners on second and third, however Butts responded with a big strikeout, her third of the game, before forcing the final out on a ground ball.
The Setters looked to score the go-ahead run in the sixth, but the Chargers new left fielder, sophomore Alexandria Cunkle (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) wouldn't allow it to happen, firing a strike from the outfield that picked off Pace's Jordan Chillinsky who was trying to score from second.
New Haven threatened to break the tie in the bottom of the sixth, but stranded a pair of runners on following a leadoff single from Luzzi and a walk issued to Derosia. However, the Setters were successful in breaking the stalemate in the top of the seventh thanks to a two-out double from pinch hitter Kahlie Bickerstaff that eluded the diving attempt from Vaughan in right center.
New Haven threatened to push the tying run across in the bottom of the seventh with senior catcher Marissa Colby (Charlton, Mass./Shepherd Hill) kicking off the offense beating out a one-out infield single to third base. That run for the Chargers would remain stranded at second as the Setters Emma Bernet secured the victory with a groundout and fly out.
The Chargers will return to action with a three-game weekend series against the Saint Rose Golden Knights on Friday and Saturday, March 30-31. The first pitch in the Friday afternoon doubleheader is slated for 2:00 p.m. at Plumeri Athletics Complex in Albany, N.Y.
