GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – The University of New Haven softball team (22-19, 13-11 NE10) closed out its four-game series against the Adelphi University Panthers splitting a doubleheader in Garden City. The Chargers dropped the opening game, a divisional match-up, by a 6-2 margin before averting a late rally in an 8-7 victory in game two.
Combining to lead the Chargers on the day was sophomore right fielder Alex Cunkle and senior catcher Marisa Colby who each finished the day with three RBI, Colby splitting hers over the two games while Cunkle knocked in all three runs while going 2-for-3 in the second game as she finished with a pair of extra base knocks, a double and a triple. Among the pair, Colby finished with a team-high four hits while Cunkle combined for three total hits across the doubleheader.
Three other Chargers combined for a pair of hits as junior shortstop Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay), senior first baseman Kristine Liptack (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) and senior centerfielder Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) all finished with one hit in each of the two games. Of that trio, Whitlock finished with a pair of RBI as she drove in one run each on two occasions, while Luzzi also drove in a run.
In the circle, the Chargers two sophomore hurlers split time in each game of the twin bill with Megan Butts (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) gathering the decision in both games, while Kylie Stonebraker (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis High School) picked up a save in the victory. Overall, Butts pitched 7.1 innings and was tagged with allowing 10 runs, seven of which were earned, while surrendering nine total hits. Stonebraker pitched 5.2 innings, giving up three runs on four hits, while striking out six.
GAME 1: Adelphi 6, New Haven 2
After the Chargers threatened in the top of the first and Adelphi stranded three runners on base in the bottom of the first, it wouldn't be until the third inning that either team would manage to plate a run. The Chargers would score first with a pair of runs in the top of the third, thanks to a single through the right side from Cobly that drove in Madison Derosia (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) and Erin Stever (Parish, N.Y./Altmar Parish Williamstown). Stever led off the inning by being hit by a pitch before Derosia reached safely on a fielder's choice with Stever advancing on an error. Both runners would advance into scoring position on an infield groundout before Colby came up clutch with the two-out RBI base knock.
The Panthers didn't let that lead last long as they needed just one swing of the bat to clear the bases with a triple from Emily Turney recording three RBI and providing the only lead change of the game. The score stayed that way until the bottom of the sixth when the Panthers pushed three more runs across, while holding New Haven to just two hits over the final four innings.
GAME 2: New Haven 8, Adelphi 7
Neither team wasted time in game two scoring runs with the Chargers opening up the game scoring four runs in the top of the first, with half of those runs matched by the Panthers in the bottom half of the frame. Four of the first five batters for the Blue and Gold reached safely courtesy of an error and three base hits. The biggest hit in that mix came from Cunkle who opened up game two with a triple to right field that scored two runs. An infield single from Jovanna Hillman (Seymour, Conn./Saint Joseph's) and a groundout from Whitlock provided the other two RBI in the inning.
The score would remain that way through the next two-and-a-half innings before the Panthers scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 5-4 lead. The Chargers wouldn't be able to answer that lead change until the fifth inning when they scored their final four runs to take an 8-5 lead, one they wouldn't relinquish. New Haven started things off in the fifth inning with three straight hits, a single from pinch hitter Alexa Hershberger (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata) followed by extra base hits from Luzzi, an RBI triple, and Colby, an RBI double. After two outs were recorded, Colby's double was rewarded by Cunkle who drove in Colby's pinch runner Cassidy Kirby (Orange, Conn./Amity Regional) on a double to left center. Whitlock followed that up with the fifth hit in the inning, a single to center that drove in Cunkle.
The Panthers managed to cut their deficit to a single run with a pair of runs in the sixth inning, stranding three runners on thanks to an 11 pitch strikeout from Stonebraker. The Chargers also stranded three runners on in the top of the seventh as they looked to add insurance runs. In the bottom of the seventh, Stonebraker closed out the game without allowing any of the three batters she faced to reach safely.
UP NEXT
The Chargers will return to West Haven to close out the regular season with a three-game home series against the Le Moyne Dolphins. New Haven continues to battle for one of five spots from the Southwest Division in the upcoming Northeast-10 Conference Championship. The series against Le Moyne is scheduled for a Friday afternoon doubleheader followed by a single game on Saturday. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at the New Haven Softball Field. The Chargers will then honor their four seniors, Tori Schiebe (Monroe, Conn./Masuk), Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge), Marisa Colby and Erin Stever (Parish, N.Y./Altmar Parish Williamstown), prior to the regular season finale on Saturday.
