WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Senior first baseman Kristine Liptack (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) combined for a four hit day to lead the University of New Haven softball team to a Sunday split in its doubleheader against Franklin Pierce. The Ravens took the first game in an extra inning walk-off 4-3 before the Chargers rebounded to score one run in the top of the first and held on for the 1-0 shutout in the nightcap.
Liptack's four hits included a 3-for-4 performance in the opening game, while she also picked up the only RBI in game one, driving in pinch runner Madison Derosia (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) on a single to right field. All three of Liptack's hits went for singles, while the Chargers combined for seven total hits, including doubles from designated player Jovanna Hillman (Seymour, Conn./Saint Joseph's) and second baseman Tori Schiebe (Monroe, Conn./Masuk). Rounding out the hits in the opening game was right fielder Alexa Hershberger (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata) and shortstop Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay).
In the second game, Liptack added one more hit, part of four total, one of which went for extra bases, that a leadoff double in the top of the first inning for junior centerfielder Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge). Whitlock would eventually score the game's only run when catcher Marisa Colby drove her in on an infield groundout. In addition to Liptack and Whitlock, Hillmand and Luzzi each finished with one hit, combining for two total on the day.
In the circle, Megan Butts (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) earned the victory in game two, pitching a complete game. Despite surrendering eight hits and walking one batter, she stranded eight runners on base to earn her team-leading seventh victory of the year. Over the two games combined, Butts to pitch 11 total innings, giving up 14 total hits but only allowed a pair of earned runs, while limiting her free passes to just two walks. She also combined to strikeout four total batters.
Suffering the loss in game one was Kylie Stonebraker (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis High School) who pitched the final 3.1 innings of the opening game, allowing a pair of earned runs on four hits and three walks, while striking out four batters.
GAME 1: Franklin Pierce 4, New Haven 3
The Chargers manufactured a pair of runs in the top of the second inning, scoring both with the help of two errors charged to Franklin Pierce. With two outs in the inning Schiebe began the rally with a double over the head of the centerfielder that settled at the base of the fence. Third baseman Erin Stever (Parish, N.Y./Altmar Parish Williamstown) followed that with a hard hit ball on a road at the shortstop who was unable to field cleanly allowing Schiebe to score from second and Stever to reach safely. After left fielder Alex Cunkle worked a six pitch walk to put runners on first and second, another hard hit ball to third base caused havoc for the Ravens, this time with the throw pulling the first baseman off the bag, allowing Stever to score from second and leaving runners on first and second.
In the bottom of the third, New Haven thwarted a great opportunity for Franklin Pierce who found themselves with the bases loaded and no outs. Butts turned the next batter into an infield groundout that led to a double play before a line drive to short ended the inning. The Ravens did muster a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, knotting the game at two.
New Haven answered that stalemate in the top of the fifth as Hillman started the offense with a double that split the defense in left center field. After the Ravens picked up the second out of the inning, Liptack drilled a base knock to right field allowing Madison Derosia (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union), who pinch ran for Hillman, to score from second.
Despite allowing three runners in the bottom of the fifth, the score would remain 3-2 in favor of New Haven until the bottom of the seventh when the first and third batters of the inning for Franklin Pierce drilled doubles, pushing the game-tying run across the plate. New Haven threatened in the top of the eighth with runners on first and second with one out only to have Whitlock's up the middle pop up off the second base bag where the Ravens where able to get the out easily, throwing home to complete the double play and end the inning.
Franklin Pierce then answered in the bottom of the eighth with the first three runners all reaching safely on free passes before a fly ball to center provided the walk-off run and the game one victory.
GAME 2: New Haven 1, Franklin Pierce 0
New Haven came out of the gate swinging in game two as Whitlock led off the game with a double rolled to the base of the fence in left center. After being sacrificed to third by a Luzzi bunt, Whitlock was able to score after waiting out the throw to first on a groundout at short, crediting catcher Marisa Colby with the RBI.
The Chargers were able to strand single runners on base in the first and third innings and staved off two hits each in the fourth and sixth to keep the shutout in order. New Haven threatened to add to its lead in its side of the sixth inning when Luzzi reached safely on a one-out single before being stranded at third.
Overall, Butts surrendered eight hits to Pierce in the game and walked one batter, but her defense picked her up with a double play that ended the second inning while stranding eight batters total on base.
UP NEXT
The Chargers will their next five games away from the friendly confines of the New Haven Softball field, beginning with a Tuesday afternoon doubleheader against crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State University. First pitch in the twinbill is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at Southern's Pelz field.
