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WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Senior Madison Derosia (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) drove in three runs on the day, splitting a pair of doubles over the New Haven Softball team's doubleheader sweep of the Merrimack Warriors on Saturday afternoon. The Chargers took the opening game by a 4-2 score before taking a 4-1 victory in game two, improving to 10-6 on the season and extending their current win streak to six-straight games.

Derosia was one of three players to finish the day with a pair of hits as she joined freshman Rachel Crafts (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug Regional) and sophomore Jovanna Hillman (Seymour, Conn./Saint Joseph) to lead the offense. Both of Crafts hits came in the opening game and Hillman's were split across the two games of the doubleheader.

Also among the leaders at the plate was freshman shortstop Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) who drove in two runs on a double in the opening game. Hillman and sophomore Melissa Bike (Stratford, Conn./Saint Joseph) also drove in runs for the Blue and Gold. New Haven was also active on the bases all day long, finishing 4-for-4 combined with Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) leading the way, successfully swiping a pair of bases.

In the circle, both of the Chargers freshman hurlers picked up a victory with Fitzmaurice throwing a complete game in the opener for her seventh victory. She also earned a save in the second game, pitching the seventh inning in relief of Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) who threw six innings for her second victory of the season in game two.

GAME ONE: New Haven 4, Merrimack 2

A pair of two-run innings for the Chargers offense led to a 4-2 victory in the opening game with freshman pitcher Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville, N.Y./Greenville) leading the Blue and Gold throwing a two-hit complete game in the circle. Fitzmaurice held the Warriors without a hit through the first six innings before Merrimack's comeback bid in the top of the seventh came up short, netting just two runs.

Leading the Chargers at the plate was Case who finished with a pair of RBI on a two-out bases-loaded double in the third inning. Hillman and Derosia also knocked in runs, adding to the Chargers tally with two runs in the sixth inning. Hillman's RBI came on a single up the middle that went right through the pitchers legs into centerfield, while Derosia knocked in her run on a double to center field.

Overall, New Haven finished with two hits with the designated player Crafts leading the team with two hits while the remaining five hits came from different players. Fitzmaurice threw her fourth straight complete game in the circle surrendering two overall hits with her two runs allowed registering as unearned. She would also walk five batters and strikeout two.

GAME TWO: New Haven 4, Merrimack 1

Despite finishing with just four total hits in the second game, the Chargers took advantage of a two RBI double from Derosia to score a pair of runs in the third and take a 4-1 lead over the Warriors that Iodice was able to hold onto for the victory.

New Haven would open up the scoring in the first inning with a single through the left side from Bike driving in Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) who led off the game working a walk. After the Warriors tied the score in the second, New Haven answered right back in its half of the second inning, taking advantage of a bases loaded wild pitch from the Warriors starting pitcher Bryana Michitson.

Derosia's second double of the day provided a pair of insurance runs as she drove in the pinch runner Nahtali Simpson (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) and Luzzi, who led off the inning with a walk. Simpson took over for Hillman after she singled through the left side to put runners on the corners with one out. After a fly ball resulted in the second out of the inning, Derosia answered with the two-out double over the head of the left fielder.

Iodice threw six innings for her second victory of the season, allowing a single earned run on four hits and four walks. She also struck out three batters. Fitzmaurice would throw a single inning of relief of Iodice, earning the first save of her collegiate career.

UP NEXT

New Haven closes out a six-game home stand welcoming crosstown rival Southern Connecticut to the New Haven Softball Field on Tuesday to close out the home-and-home NE10 series. First pitch in the opening game is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.