GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The University of New Haven softball team continued its trip in the Volunteer state splitting a pair of games on Saturday. The Chargers opened up the day defeating the host Tusculum University 6-5 before falling to King University 7-3.

Leading the Chargers on the day was sophomore first baseman Melissa Bike (Stratford, Conn./Saint Joseph) who collected three hits across the double header with those three base knocks coming on seven at bats. Four other players mustered a pair of hits combined on the day with Bike and shortstop Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) the only other to split her hits across the two doubleheaders, while she led the Blue and Gold with three RBI including a pair on a single up the middle against King.

Senior third baseman Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) and junior catcher Samantha Errera (Sweetwater, N.J./Cedar Creek) were also among of the five Chargers to finish with a pair of hits as each followed Case in leading the team with two and one RBI, respectively. Both of Luzzi's RBI came as part of a big six-run rally in the opening game against Tusculum, while Errera's RBI came as part of a three-run seventh inning against King.

In the circle, freshman Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) was the pitcher of record in both games, earning the victory in the opener after pitching 5.0 innings allowing two runs, neither of which was earned, on two hits. She also struck out two and walked a pair against the Pioneers. In game two, Iodice pitched just one-and-one-third innings allowing three earned runs on five hits with one strikeout.

Freshman Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville, N.Y./Greenville) came in relief of Iodice in both games, pitching a pair of innings in the opener where she surrendered three earned runs on three hits. In the second game, Fitzmaurice pitched 4.2 innings allowing four runs on three hits and a pair of walks.

GAME ONE: New Haven 6, Tusculum 5

Tusculum opened up the scoring in the second inning with a single run and added one more in the fourth. In both instances it was Charger that led to the runs with a fielding error in the second allowing the first runner of the inning with one out, while a throwing error in the fourth would allow the run to score.

Facing the two-run deficit, the Chargers would rally for six runs in the fifth inning, all of which were unearned following two Tusculum errors in the frame. Bike and designated player Rachel Crafts (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug Regional) led off the inning with singles before the next two batters both struck out looking.

With the two runners aboard it was an error charged to the pitcher that extended the inning and allowing the first run to score as Nahtali Simpson (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) scored from second after pinch running for Bike. On the very next at bat it was another error, this time at third, which yet again extended the inning and allowed Vanessa Strohm (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) to score from third after pinch running for Crafts.

The next three batters followed with RBI hits as Case knocked in what was the lead-changing run on a double down the right field line, while Luzzi followed with a single up the middle that allowed Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) and Case to score. Another double would drive in the final run, this time with Jovanna Hillman (Seymour, Conn./Saint Joseph) driving her two-bagger to left center.

Tusculum would make a late rally attempt in the seven inning, plating three runs, including one on a solo home run. Overall the three runs came on three hits in the inning before Fitzmaurice closed out the victory forcing an infield popup to end the threat.

GAME TWO: King 7, New Haven 3

King struck early and often in game two, scoring five runs in the first two innings, knocking the Chargers starter, Iodice, out after recording just four outs. Among the highlights for the Tornado's was a two-run home run from Kay Brokering who opened up the game going 2-for-2 at the plate in those two frames.

After holding King scoreless through the middle three innings, the Chargers surrendered two more runs in the sixth inning all coming within the first four at bats courtesy of a walk and two hits.

New Haven, facing a large deficit, wasn't going to go down without a fight, scoring three runs in the top of the seventh before surrendering the victory. Second baseman Madison Derosia (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) led off the seventh inning with a double to left field while right fielder Hailey Polisano (Howell, N.J./Howell) worked a walk as the eight and nine hole hitters both reached safely for the Blue and Gold. Whitlock followed that up with a single before another single, this time from Case drove in the first two runs, plating Derosia and Polisano who scored from second.

The final run came thanks to Errera who looked to go a perfect 3-of-3 at the plate but surrendered the second out while driving in Whitlock on an infield groundout.

UP NEXT

New Haven will conclude its second southern trip on Sunday with a single game against Columbus State scheduled for 10:00 a.m. at Red Edmonds Field.