WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Freshman third baseman Rachel Crafts (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug Regional) drove in a pair of runs in the opening game leading the University of New Haven softball team in a two-game sweep of the visiting American International Yellow Jackets. Prior to opening their final home weekend series, New Haven honored the six senior members of the team; Rachel Gilmore (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights), Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay), Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge), Jolie Morrell (West Haven, Conn./West Haven), Vanessa Strohm (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) and Madison Derosia (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union).
Overall, Crafts was one of eight players to finish with a hit on the day with just one of those hits going for extra bases, a double down the left field line in game two from the senior centerfielder Whitlock. In that game, Whitlock also drove in two runs and scored twice. Freshman Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) was the only player to register a base knock in each game, finished 2-of-4 in the opener with an RBI and a run scored and 1-3 in game two. The only other player to finish with an RBI on the day was the senior shortstop Luzzi.
In the circle, freshman Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville, N.Y./Greenville) and junior Megan Butts (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) each earned a victory on the day with Fitzmaurice going the distance in the opener to earn her team-leading 13th win, which ties her for second most in the NE10. Her seven inning outing was the 14th time, in 16 starts, that she has gone the distance, while she surrendered a single earned run, two total, on seven hits. She also struck out two batters.
Butts threw six shutout innings in game two, giving up just five hits and struck out one batter. Freshman Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) also earned a decision in the game, picking up her first collegiate save as she pitched a near perfect seventh inning, surrendering a single hit while also striking out one batter.
New Haven and American International will continue the series on Sunday when the Yellow Jackets return to West Haven for a scheduled doubleheader. Due to impending inclement weather, first pitch in the opening game has been moved up to 11:00 a.m. at the New Haven Softball Field.
GAME ONE: New Haven 4, American International 2
AIC was the first to score on the day, plating a pair of runs in the third inning with both runs scoring on the same play. The Chargers weren't going to let the deficit last long, rallying for three runs in the bottom of the third. The first four batters for New Haven all reached safely with leftfielder Catherine Vaughan (Commack, N.Y./Hauppauge) starting things off with a seven pitch walk after falling behind 0-2 in the at bat.
Returning to the top of the lineup, Whitlock legged out an infield single to short stop that left runners on first and second for Case who reached on a fielder's choice with AIC able to erase the middle runner, but leaving Chargers on the corners with one out. That brought Luzzi to the plate who reached on an error by the third baseman that allowed Case to advance to third and Vaughan to score the first run.
After the second out was recorded, Crafts came up big with a single that drove in both Case and Luzzi to take the Blue and Gold's first and only lead of the game. New Haven added one more run in the bottom of the fourth, this time thanks to Case who drove in the senior right fielder Strohm who led off the inning with a five-pitch walk and got herself into scoring position when she swiped second with two outs.
Fitzmaurice responded to the offense extending their lead by retiring the Yellow Jackets in order in the fifth before needing to work out of trouble with runners on the corners and one out in the sixth. She wouldn't let up, however, as she dug deep and retired the final five batters she faced in order to extend her team-high win total.
GAME TWO: New Haven 3, American International 0
The Chargers would open up the scoring in game two right away, scoring their first run in the bottom of the first inning with some well-timed base running. After Butts pitched a one-two-three top of the first, New Haven starting things off with Whitlock reaching base on an error at shortstop. Case would follow that with a single to right center that left runners on the corners.
During Luzzi's at bat, Case took off for second and despite being caught stealing, the throw down to second allowed Whitlock to score on the double steal attempt. Butts would go on to retire the next five batters in order before surrendering her first hit with two outs in the third inning, but it would not turn out to be a threat as she stranded that runner at first.
New Haven returned in the bottom of the third to plate its final two runs, again with a lead-off walk coming back to hurt the Yellow Jackets. Vaughan would work the free pass once again and after she swiped second she was able to score on the next at bat when Whitlock doubled to left field. Vaughan was able to score on the play as well as the throw home that attempted to catch her scoring was throw into the backstop allowing Whitlock to reach third. Luzzi would then register her single RBI of the day on a groundout that allowed the senior centerfielder to score easily from third.
Butts would surrender three hits but never allow a runner past second in the fourth and gave up one more hit in the fifth before sitting down the Yellow Jackets in order in the sixth. Iodice would take over for the final inning, giving up a one-out single but ending the game on a called third strike.
