MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The University of New Haven softball team (3-2) closed out its season-opening Snowbird Freeze Out tournament with a 14-1 win over The Rock of Slippery Rock University on Sunday afternoon. The win for New Haven was also the 400th career victory for Head Coach Jen Starek, whose head coaching career includes stints at Mount Ida and Simmons.

Leading the Chargers in their final game of the weekend was freshman shortstop Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) who finished 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Additionally, outfielders Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge), Vanessa Strohm (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) and Hailey Polisano (Howell, N.J./Howell) joined second baseman Madison Derosia (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) with two hits apiece. Designated hitter Rachel Crafts (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug Regional) and Polisano also joined in the RBI column, each knocking in a pair of runs.

The Chargers fell behind, allowing a single run in the bottom of the first inning, but responded by scoring 11 runs in the top of the second to put the game out of reach. Sophomore Melissa Bike (Stratford, Conn./Saint Joseph) started the inning reaching on an error. That set up Crafts who's first at bat of the day resulted in a two run homerun as the Chargers took over the lead.

The hits kept coming for New Haven with a two RBI double to left field followed by Polisano continuing the rally hitting an RBI triple. Whitlock and Case followed with singles allowing Polisano o score from third. Bike followed with a single through the left side scoring Whitlock. Strohm and Derosia each followed with RBI's. Overall, the Blue and Gold collected a total of 10 hits in the top of the second inning.

Despite that early run allowed by freshman pitcher Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville, N.Y./Greenville), she would go on to hold The Rock scoreless earning her third victory of the season and second in complete game fashion. Facing 18 batters, Fitmaurice recorded five strikeouts and allowed just four hits.

The Chargers kept the hits and runs coming in the fourth inning adding three more to their tally. Derosia started off the top of the fourth with a single through the left side. Polisano and Case each followed with RBI singles.

The Chargers will return to the Northeast and looks to open their home schedule on Friday, March 1 when they return to the diamond to host the Saint Thomas Aquinas Spartans for a doubleheader. First pitch in the opening game of the day is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at the New Haven Softball Field.