NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Sophomore pitcher Kylie Stonebraker (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis High School) held Southern Connecticut State to just one run on three hits as the University of New Haven softball team (18-18, 9-10 NE10) defeated its crosstown rival 3-1 in a Northeast-10 Southwest Division battle. Stonebraker's complete game in the circle featured five strikeouts, while she stranded six owls on base.
Offensively, the Chargers were led by freshman designated hitter Jovanna Hillman (Seymour, Conn./Saint Joseph's) who was one of two Chargers to finish with a pair of hits as she was joined by sophomore right fielder Alexandria Cunkle (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin). Hillman closed out the day with her two hits coming in three at bats with one of her hits going for extra bases, while she also registered a walk. Cunkle finished 2-of-4 at the plate, while she also recorded a double and was one of three players who all drove in a single run.
Overall, New Haven finished with nine hits on the day, the remaining five coming from different players, including a third two-base hit off the bat of senior third baseman Erin Stever (Parish, N.Y./Altmar Parish Williamstown), who also registered the only other RBI. Senior catcher Marissa Colby (Charlton, Mass./Shepherd Hill), senior left fielder Tori Schiebe (Monroe, Conn./Masuk), junior second baseman Madison Derosia (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) and junior shortstop Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) all rounded out those reaching safely with base knocks.
After a scoreless opening three innings, the Chargers were the first to threaten to break that stalemate in the top of the fourth but closed out the frame stranding the bases loaded courtesy of a single, a fielder's choice, a walk and an Owl error. Southern Connecticut responded in the top of the fifth by retiring the Chargers in order before breaking the 0-0 draw with their lone run coming in the bottom of the fifth. Sara Buscett picked up the Owls RBI with a bases loaded fielder's choice.
New Haven answered back just four batters into the top of the sixth when an error that allowed Schiebe to reach safely came back to haunt the Owls. Cunkle was credited with knocking in the game-tying run as her double to center allowed Schiebe to score from second after advancing on the original error. Cunkle was then rewarded on the next at bat when Stever followed with a second-straight two-bagger, this one to left field.
The Chargers added one more insurance run in the seventh inning with an RBI single to left field from Hillman with two outs plating pinch runner Catherine Vaughan (Commack, N.Y./Hauppauge) after Colby led off the inning with a single. Despite allowing a one-out double down the left field line, Stonebraker responded with an infield popup and a groundout to cap off the victory.
The Chargers return to action in less than 24 hours when they begin a three-game divisional series on the road against the American International Yellow Jackets. First pitch in the opening game against AIC is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at Judy Groff Field.
