GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – In its first day in the Volunteer State, the University of New Haven softball team dropped a 3-2 decision to the Tusculum Pioneers in a game added to the schedule in anticipation of inclement weather affecting the upcoming Pioneer Classic. Leading the Chargers against Tusculum was senior centerfielder Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) who collected a pair of New Haven's seven total hits.
The remaining five hits for New Haven all came from different players with a trio of Chargers drilling doubles; designated hitter Kat Aponte, right fielder Vanessa Strohm (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) and second baseman Madison Derosia (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union). Catcher Jovanna Hillman (Seymour, Conn./Saint Joseph) and leftfielder Catherine Vaughn also scattered hits, both of which were singles that came in the fifth inning.
Suffering the loss in the circle for the Blue and Gold was freshman Ava Fitmaurice who threw a complete game allowing three runs on eight hits and striking out two batters. She also did not issue a walk.
New Haven got on the board first, breaking a scoreless drought in the second inning with Aponte's one-out double to right center kicking off the offense. Following freshman Hailey Polisano (Howell, N.J./Howell) replacing Aponte on the bases, Derosia followed with a two-out double to left center which allowed Polisano to score from second.
The Pioneers managed to knot the score at one in the bottom of the third with a leadoff double able to score on a sacrifice fly. Following a scoreless fourth inning for both teams, New Haven regained a single run advantage in the fifth inning with Vaughn leading off the frame with a single up the middle. After swiping second base, Vaughn was rewarded on a two-out single to left field with Hillman's base knock driving in the run.
After Fitzmaurice gave up a leadoff triple in the seventh, she settled in to strand that runner in place, registering back-to-back strikeouts before getting out the jam with a groundout to third. Fitzmaurice wasn't as lucky in the seventh inning, this time surrendering a leadoff home run which resulted in a 2-2 tie. After a pair of fly outs, the rookie hurler would give up back-to-back hits, a single up the middle followed by a triple to right center which allowed the game-winning run to score from first.
New Haven is scheduled to open up play in the Pioneer Classic on Friday with a doubleheader against UVA Wise. First pitch in the opening game of the twinbill is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Red Edmonds Field.
