BROOKEVILLE, N.Y. – Three extra base hits from sophomore first baseman Melissa Bike (Stratford, Conn./Saint Joseph) led the New Haven softball team (4-6) as they dropped a pair of games on the road at LIU Post on Sunday afternoon. Bike was one of three Chargers to finish with a combined three hits across the two games, while all three of hers went for extra bases on a pair of doubles and her first collegiate home run.
Joining Bike in leading the Chargers at the plate was senior second baseman Madison Derosia (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) and freshman shortstop Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee). All three of the leading hitters each drove in a run, while sophomore catcher Jovanna Hillman (Seymour, Conn./Saint Joseph) joined in that party with an RBI coming on her team-leading third home run of the season. Overall, New Haven combined for 14 hits with six of those going for extra bases.
In the circle, each of the Chargers freshman hurlers, Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville, N.Y./Greenville) and Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional), suffered a loss on the day. Fitzmaurice threw a complete game in the opener, surrendering four earned run on 10 hits while striking out two, both looking. Iodice threw all but two outs against the Pioneers as she was tagged with five earned runs on four hits while walking five batters.
GAME 1: LIU Post 4, New Haven 3
After both teams left runners stranded in the first inning, New Haven broke the scoreless stalemate with a single run in the top of the second. Hitting in the five hole, Bike led off the frame in impressive fashion, smacking her first collegiate home run to right field.
After being retired in order in the second, the Pioneers answered plating one run in the bottom of the third using three-straight one-out hits. After surrendering the tying run, Fitzmaurice was able to get out of a bases loaded jam without yielding another tally.
The Chargers would break the 1-1 stalemate in the fifth inning thanks in part to Derosia who led off the frame with her only hit of the game, a double to right field. After advancing on an infield groundout, Derosia scored on a clutch two-out single through the right side as Case fought off a two-strike count with a pair of foul balls before driving in Derosia.
The lead would last long for the Blue and Gold as the Pioneers responded in the bottom of the fifth, leading off the inning with back-to-back hits, a double and a two-run home run from junior Abbey Fortin.
New Haven would answer back quickly in the top of the sixth when a second Charger led off an inning going yard, this time Hillman did the damage, sending her third home run of the season over the fence in left center. Yet again, the Chargers lead wouldn't last long as Fortin again came through for her squad in the bottom of the sixth with a sacrifice fly down the right field line that allowed the game-winning run to score.
Overall in the game, New Haven finished with eight hits which came from seven different players as the only Charger to finish with more than one hit was junior third baseman Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) who scattered a pair of singles. Three of the Blue and Gold's hits went for extra bases with Derosia's double joining the four-baggers from Bike and Hillman.
In the circle, Fitzmaurice threw a complete game while suffering her third loss of the season. In six innings of work, she would surrender four earned runs on 10 hits and two walks while striking out a pair.
GAME TWO:
New Haven found itself behind early in game two as the Pioneers plated three runs in the first two innings. The single run in the bottom of the first for LIU Post came with two outs in the frame as the Pioneers rallied for two hits and worked a pair of walks to take the early lead. They would then add to the tally with two runs in the second, once again coming up big with two outs. This time around the Pioneers were boosted by bases loaded a two-run double from third baseman Breanna Klaiber.
The Chargers would muster their only run of the game in the fourth inning with a leadoff double down the left field line from Bike starting the momentum. After freshman Nahtali Simpson (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) took over running responsibilities at second and with one out in the books, Derosia came through with a single to right center that was deep enough to score Simpson from 120 feet away.
LIU quickly regained its three-run advantage, taking that run back in the bottom of the fourth. This time around it was Allie Laird that came through for the Pioneers as she sailed the home team's first home run of the double dip to left field. The Green and Gold added one more run in the sixth inning to put the game out of reach for New Haven. The unearned run came with the assistance of a throwing error that allowed that run to reach second base before being rewarded on a one-out double, once again with Laird earning the RBI.
In the second game, New Haven scattered six total hits with three different players all finishing with two; Case, Bike and Derosia. Both of Bike's hits went for extra bases as did one of Case's, while Derosia knocked in the lone Charger run.
In the circle, Iodice threw 5.1 innings and was credited with allowing all five runs, giving up four hits and walking five batters. She would also strikeout two batters, while Fitzmaurice struck out one in her two-thirds inning of relief work.
UP NEXT
New Haven will make their first appearance in the Nutmeg State when they return to the diamond on Wednesday afternoon opening Northeast-10 Conference play against crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State University. First pitch of the doubleheader at SCSU's Pelz field is slated for 2:30 p.m.
