PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Senior right fielder Vanessa Strohm (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) went yard for the first time this season driving in three runs to lead the University of New Haven softball team in a 3-1 win over the Pace Setters on Thursday Afternoon. That victory followed the Chargers scoring a 4-3 walk-off decision as the two teams completed a suspended game from earlier in the month.
Strohm's three RBI were the only for the Chargers in game two as she was one of five players to finish with at least one hit. Leading the way was senior shortstop Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) who finished with two hits, a double and a single. In the conclusion of the suspended game it was sophomore Jovanna Hillman (Seymour, Conn./Saint Joseph) that came up big as she drilled a two-out double to centerfield that drove in the game-winning run.
In the circle, freshman Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) earned the victory in both of the games, pitching a perfect ninth inning in game one and surrendering just a single run on five hits and striking out three in game two. She also struck out a pair in the first game, closing out the day with five total.
New Haven will return to the diamond on Saturday to open up a four-game weekend with the visiting American International Yellow Jackets at the New Haven Softball Field. The Chargers and Yellow Jackets are scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. first pitch on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
GAME ONE: New Haven 4, Pace 3
Entering the game with a 3-3 tie in the top of the ninth, freshman Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) returned to the circle to shutdown the Setters in the top of the ninth inning, striking out the first two batters she faced before forcing a fly ball to end the inning.
In the bottom half of the ninth, the first two Charger batters in the inning were retired in order before junior leftfielder Catherine Vaughan (Commack, N.Y./Hauppauge) began the rally with a two-out double down the leftfield line. That was followed by Hillman, who entered as a pinch hitter, drilling a second straight two-bagger driving in Vaughan for the walk-off victory.
GAME TWO: New Haven 3, Pace 1
After a three-up, three-down first inning for both teams, New Haven opened up the scoring in the second inning with the senior right fielder, Strohm, providing all the muscle as she drilled her second collegiate home run over the left field fence driving in freshman Rachel Crafts (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug Regional) and senior Madison Derosia (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union).
Iodice came back in the bottom of the second to protect the lead, however the Setters were able to muster one run in the third inning courtesy of a pair of hits. The Chargers threatened to add insurance runs in the third and fourth inning, stranding runners in scoring position in both frames.
The rookie pitcher, Iodice, didn't waiver, working out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth inning only to retire the Setters in order in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn her second victory of the day.
