WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Senior Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) finished with a team-high four hits and scored five runs combined on the day as the University of New Haven softball team swept both ends of a doubleheader against crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State University to close out the home and home series a perfect 4-0. The Chargers swept the divisional series with an 11-3, five-inning, victory in the opener before taking the series finale with a two-base wild pitch walk off in game two.

Whitlock was one of six players to finish the day with multiple hits as she added a pair of steals in as many attempts to her credit. Joining her in leading the Chargers at the plate was designated player Rachel Crafts (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug Regional) and third baseman Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) who each finished with two hits, while Luzzi also swiped one base on the day. Overall, New Haven was a perfect 6-of-6 in stolen bases while holding the Owls unsuccessful in their one attempt.

In the circle, freshman Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville, N.Y./Greenville) picked up the victory in each end of the doubleheader improving to 9-3 on the season with her nine wins leading the team and the NE10. In a total of nine innings of work, she allowed three earned runs, five total, on six hits and struck out three batters. Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) was also very effective for New Haven, throwing 3.2 innings of relief and striking out a team-best six batters, including four of the first five she faced.

GAME ONE: New Haven 11, Southern Connecticut 3

Sophomore First baseman Melissa Bike (Stratford, Conn./Saint Joseph) drove in three runs while Crafts drove in a pair to lead the Chargers in the opening game. Overall, New Haven finished with 10 hits, led Whitlock who finished 3-of-4 at the plate, one of three players to finish with a multi-hit outing. She was joined by Luzzi and Bike who each finished with a pair of base knocks.

In the circle, the Chargers picked up another complete game, the fifth straight from Fitzmaurice who was tagged with a pair of earned runs on four hits and three walks. She also struck out one batter while earning her eighth victory.

New Haven started scoring early and didn't stop, putting up at least one run in every inning until plating four runs in the fifth to retire the Owls in the run-rule shortened game. In the first inning it was the rookie Crafts who provided the muscle driving in both of her runs on a single to put New Haven head 2-0 ear.

The Chargers added one more run in the second inning with freshman shortstop Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) knocking in the run on a single through the left side. That hit allowed senior second baseman Madison Derosia (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) to score after she led off the inning reaching on an error at third. Southern Connecticut managed to plate a pair of runs in the top of the third to pull the game within striking distance but New Haven's bats weren't going to let up, scoring another run in the third and pushing three more across in the fourth inning.

In the third inning, New Haven's run came courtesy of a wild pitch that allowed senior right fielder Vanessa Strohm (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) after she reached on a two-out double to left and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. The Chargers first run in the fourth inning came courtesy of another error on the visiting Owls, this time at the hands of the pitcher which allowed left fielder Catherine Vaughan (Commack, N.Y./Hauppauge) to score after leading off the inning being hit by a pitch.

Some heads up base running led to the second run of the inning when Whitlock scored on a throw to second that attempted to erase the speedy Case who swiped second base. With Case still at second, Bike would come through with her first RBI of the game driving in the Chargers shortstop on a double to right center.

After surrendering a single run in the top of the fifth, the Chargers put the game in the books with four runs in the bottom half of the inning. Bike's second straight hit, this time a single up the middle would lead to the first two runs while an error that allowed catcher Samantha Errera (Sweetwater, N.J./Cedar Creek) to reach first extended the inning and allowed Case to score. The Owls would doom themselves in the end, walking Vaughan with the bases loaded to end the game on the run-rule.

GAME TWO: New Haven, Southern Connecticut

The Chargers started scoring early again in game two, plating three runs in the first two innings. It would be another error that proved costly for the Owls as Whitlock led off the bottom of the first inning reaching on an error at third base which allowed her to advance all the way to third base. From there she was driven home by Bike who sacrificed herself on a fly ball to right field.

In the second inning, New Haven would send seven batters to the plate with the first three all reaching safely on hits. Luzzi and Hillman led off the frame with back-to-back doubles, Luzzi's to right field and Hillman to left center with the latter of those driving in the first run. After Hillman advanced to third on a single from Derosia, the Chargers catcher was able to score on a throwing error against the Owls catcher as she threw down to second with no one covering as Derosia swiped the base.

Southern Connecticut mustered runs in the second and third inning before tying the game in the seventh inning forcing extra innings. After a scoreless eighth and ninth inning, the teams began with a runner at second to close out the non-divisional game.

The Owls struck first with the advantage, knocking in their runner on a leadoff double in the left center gap from Julia Lener. Two batters later, Southern added one more run thanks to a single to left field off the bat of Jacqueline Dumont.

New Haven, trailing by a pair of runs, was determined in their half of the 10th, plating their lead runner on a single from Whitlock as the throw from third got away and allowed Whitlock to advance to bases to third on the error. Case followed with a single up the middle on the next at bat which plated Whitlock to tie the score with no outs. After the first out was recorded, Crafts single through the left side putting runners on first and second for the Chargers. With Luzzi at bat looking to drive in the game-winning tally, the Owls had a pitch get away from the catcher as both runners advanced and were able to take advantage as the catcher was unable to locate the ball with Case diving into home for the walk-off victory.

Crafts led New Haven at the plate in game two finishing with two of the Chargers eight total hits, the only player to net a multi-hit game. Case, Bike and Hillman all drove in runs for New Haven. In the circle, Fitzmaurice earned her second victory of the day after entering in the seventh to relief Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional). Of the three pitchers used by New Haven, Iodice proved the most effective, throwing 3.2 innings of relief striking out six batters, including four of the first five batters she faced.

UP NEXT

New Haven will return to the diamond once more before the weekend when they travel to Long Island for a non-conference doubleheader with the Molloy Lions on Thursday, March 28. First pitch from Bob Klein Field in Rockville Centre, N.Y. is slated for 3:00 p.m.