PHOTO GALLERY
WEST HAVEN, Conn. – New Haven's freshman catcher Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) put up monster numbers on the second day of action against AIC, driving in seven runs on six hits, including four doubles as she led the Chargers softball team to another two-game sweep of the Yellow Jackets to complete the weekend 4-0 against the NE10 foe.
Case wasn't the only hot bat for New Haven as senior centerfielder Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) matched her performance at the plate, each going 6-of-7, while Whitlock scored five runs and drove in one. Overall, Case finished with 10 total bases for a .857 on base percentage and closed out the day with a 1.429 slugging percentage while both she and Whitlock finished with a stolen base. New Haven closed out the day a perfect 4-of-4 in stolen bases.
Three other Chargers drove in multiple runs on the day with senior shortstop Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) following Case with three RBI, including two in the second game, one of which came on a double to left center. Rounding out New Haven's RBI leaders was senior second baseman Madison Derosia (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) and sophomore first baseman Melissa Bike (Stratford, Conn./Saint Joseph) who each drove in two runs. Bike's two RBI came in the opening game as part of a six-run third inning for New Haven. Derosia also drove in her two runs in the opening game as she finished that game 2-of-3 at the plate and with three hits overall on the day.
In the circle it was the Chargers two freshman pitchers that earned the victory with Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville, N.Y./Greenville) earning the complete game victory in the opener and Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) earning a relief victory in game two. Fitzmaurice threw her second shutout in her 15th complete game earning her 14th victory of the season, which ties her for second most in the NE10. Iodice threw 4.2 scoreless innings in relief in game two, striking out three batters to earn her seventh win of the year.
New Haven will continue NE10 divisional play with a midweek doubleheader next on the slate at divisional leading Adelphi on Wednesday afternoon. The Panthers, who will enter the series with a perfect 9-0 divisional record, are coming off of a three-game sweep of Saint Rose. First pitch from Ficke Field is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
GAME ONE: New Haven 10, American International 0
After a quick three-up, three-down top of the first for Fitzmaurice, New Haven put up a three spot in its half of the first with the Chargers bats getting to AIC starter Kacie Allison right out of the gates, tagging her for four hits in the first inning. Whitlock opened up her 3-for-3 day with a single deep in the hole at second. After she swiped second, Case rewarded her with a double just inside the right field line for the first run of the day.
With runners on the corners, third baseman Rachel Crafts (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug Regional) would reach on a fielder's choice that allowed Luzzi to score from third after she reached safely on the first of back-to-back errors by the shortstop. Strohm and Derosia followed Crafts with back-to-back singles, the second of which drove in the freshman corner infielder with Derosia picking up her first of two RBI in the game, giving her team an early 3-0 lead.
After yet another one-two-three inning for Fitzmaurice, the Chargers would plate another run in the second inning with another back-to-back hit parade from Whitlock and Case put two runners in scoring position as Case yet again doubled, this time down the left field line, for her second two-bagger in as many at bats. Luzzi would follow with her first RBI of the afternoon, scoring Whitlock on an infield groundout.
Fitzmaurice kept the Yellow Jackets off the bases for a third straight inning, while her offense added six more runs in the bottom of the third to put the game out of reach at 10-0. The first six batters of the inning for New Haven all reached safely, with the first four all registering singles, which knocked the the Yellow Jackets starter out of the game.
The third single in that stretch provided the first run of the inning with Derosia knocking in Crafts who beat out an infield single to reach base. The big hit in the frame came from the sophomore first baseman, Bike whose single up the middle drove in Derosia and Strohm, leading to the pitching change for AIC.
With Bike on first, leftfielder Catherine Vaughan (Commack, N.Y./Hauppauge) would work a five-pitch walk with Whitlock completing her perfect game at the plate with a single up the middle that left runners on first and second. Vaughan was then able to score on a wild pitch that also advanced Whitlock to third where she was able to score on the second RBI of the day from Case, this one coming on a groundout.
Fitzmaurice would closed out her 15th complete game of the season surrendering just one hit and walked one batter, stranding both of those runners on in the fourth inning. She would then retire the final three batters she faced in order for the run-rule victory, her team-leading 14th of the season.
GAME TWO: New Haven 9, American International 3
It would be the Yellow Jackets scoring first in game two, but New Haven didn't let up as Whitlock and Case again led off the game with back-to-back hits, including the third double of the afternoon from Case. This time around she laced the ball of the base of the wall in right center which allowed Whitlock to score from first knotting the game at one. After advancing on a wild pitch, Case was rewarded by Luzzi who drove in her first run of the game on an infield groundout.
AIC managed to score one more run in the second inning to tie the game for the second time, however the Chargers answered by plating two more runs in the second inning, thanks again to the rookie catcher Case. Both of the second inning runs came after two outs were recorded with Bike starting the rally working a six-pitch free pass. Vaughan followed that with a single to center field which was the first of three-straight hits for the Blue and Gold. After Whitlock singled to short loading the bases, Case drilled a single to left field which allowed both Bike and Vaughan to score, giving New Have a 4-2 lead.
After being held scoreless for the first time in the game, the Chargers rallied again in the fourth sending eight batters to the plate and scoring four runs for an 8-3 lead. Vaughan would begin the rally with her second hit of the game, a single to left field. That turned the lineup over to the top of the order where Whitlock and Case again went single, double with Whitlock scoring Vaughan and Case driving in Whitlock for a quick two runs. Case's double was her second of the game and fourth of the day as the RBI was her fourth of the game and sixth of the day.
Luzzi would follow Case's lead, drilling her first hit of the game to left center for a second-straight double for the Blue and Gold, scoring Case and setting herself up for Hillman. The sophomore designated player came through, knocking a single through the left side to plate the final run of the inning for New Haven.
Case kept her impressive performance going in the fifth inning when she drove in her fifth run of the game scoring Derosia as the Chargers took advantage of the inning being extended on an error at first base that allowed Whitlock to reach safely with two outs in the inning.
Iodice, who came in to relieve Butts in the third inning closed out the Chargers 4-0 weekend with a perfect top of the seventh inning to earn her seventh victory of the season. Overall, she pitched 4.2 scoreless innings, giving up just four hits while striking out three batters.
