PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The University of New Haven softball team dropped both ends of its Northeast-10 Southwest Division doubleheader against the Pace Setters on Thursday, dropping an 8-0 decision in the opening game and a 6-5 outcome in the nightcap. Leading the Chargers on the day was senior second baseman Tori Schiebe (Monroe, Conn./Masuk) who was one of three players to finish with a pair of hits combined in the doubleheader.

Joining Schiebe in leading the Blue and Gold at the plate was freshman Jovanna Hillman (Seymour, Conn./Saint Joseph's) and senior Kristine Liptack (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull), with Schiebe being the only one of the trio to drive in a run. Overall, the Chargers finished with 10 hits combined on the day, those coming from seven different players, while junior Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) and freshman Katrina Aponte (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) each joined Schiebe in driving in a run. In the circle, the sophomore duo of Megan Butts (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) and Kylie Stonebraker (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis High School) suffered one loss apiece.

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

In the early going, the Chargers stranded four runners on base in the first three innings, including three in scoring position. Overall, New Haven finished with five hits in the opening game, four of which came in those first three innings, including a double from Luzzi. Hillman also finished with a double in the opening game.

Following the bottom half of the third, the Chargers found themselves in a 3-0 hole following a single swing of the bat that led to a 3-0 deficit for the visiting team. The first three Setters in the third reached safely with the third a home run over the right field fence off the bat of Niyah Brown. However, Stonebraker responded by retiring the next three batters in order. Pace added two more runs in the fourth and closed out the game with two runs in the bottom of the sixth.

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

The Chargers would again need to work from behind against the Setters, who took a 2-0 lead following the first two innings. New Haven managed its first runs of the day in the top of the fourth inning, scoring three runs after opening up the frame with Kristine Liptack (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) reaching safely on an infield error. Following that, the next two batters, Marisa Colby and Hillman, each walked to load the bases with Schiebe picking up the first RBI of the day when she knocked in Liptack on a sacrifice to left. Aponte, on a pinch hitting appearance, provided the next two runs when her double to right field allowed both Colby and Hillman to score.

After surrendering a game-tying run in the bottom of the fourth, the Chargers added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take their second two-run lead at 5-3. Another leadoff infield error against the Setters started off the fifth inning, this time with Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) getting the benefit. She would eventually score when Luzzi knocked a sacrifice fly to center. In the sixth inning, Schiebe began the offense with a one-out single to center, scoring two batters later on another Setters error, which allowed Catherine Vaughan (Commack, N.Y./Hauppauge) to reach, extending the inning.

Pace responded by scoring two game-tying runs in the bottom of the sixth, before winning the game on a walk-off home run off the bat of Niyah Brown, her third hit of the game.

UP NEXT

The Chargers return to the diamond for the first of four games, all scheduled to be away from the West Haven campus. The first of those doubleheaders is slated for Saturday in Manchester, N.H. when New Haven meets the Southern New Hampshire Penmen. First pitch from SNHU Softball Field is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.