WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Senior shortstop Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) drove in a pair of runs to lead the University of New Haven softball team (28-13) in a split of the Adelphi Panthers on Tuesday afternoon at the New Haven softball field. The Chargers took the opening game, which completed the Southwest Division season series victory, 3-1 before a comeback bid in the bottom of the seventh came just short dropping game two by a 3-2 final.
Luzzi was one of five players to finish the day with a pair of hits across the two games, while seniors Madison Derosia (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) and Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) each joined her in driving in a single run. Derosia was also the only New Haven player to knock and extra base hit which came as a double in game two.
In addition to the three seniors, Vanessa Strohm (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) and Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) joined in the group, all finishing with two hits with Strohm's two hits coming on five at bats for a .400 batting average on the afternoon.
Earning the victory in the circle was freshman Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville, N.Y./Greenville) who threw her team-leading 17th complete game of the season to earn her 16th victory. The senior threw a shutout through the sixth inning before surrendering her only run in the top of the seventh. Overall, she gave up eight runs and struck out a pair of batters.
New Haven will close out its regular season schedule on Thursday afternoon when they welcome a non-conference foe Caldwell to the New Haven Softball Field for a doubleheader. First pitch in the regional battle is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
GAME ONE: New Haven 3, Adelphi 1
Adelphi threatened with two outs in the top of the first inning when the number three and four hitters each connected on hits, the second one a double from the clean-up batter Hannah Pineda with first baseman Emily Turney attempting to score on the deep ball to center field but was caught at the plate on a great relay throw from Whitlock to Luzzi to Case who got the tag down just in time.
New Haven didn't waste time platting its first run in the bottom of the inning as Whitlock beat out the throw home on a sacrifice fly by Luzzi. Whitlock originally reached on a single down the left field line, sailing her shot over the outstretched reach of the third baseman. After stealing second, Whitlock advanced on a groundout, taking third on the throw before Luzzi drove her in with her 22nd RBI of the season.
Fitzmaurice would need to work out of trouble in the fourth inning when the Panthers had runners on second and third with one out. The freshman pitcher was able to force the eight-hole hitter Lauren O'Neill into an infield ground ball that led to a rundown at the plate erasing the lead runner. Fitzmaurice would then force a fly ball to left to end the threat.
The Chargers responded by scoring two runs to extend their lead to 3-0. Back-to-back hits from Strohm and Derosia would net the first insurance run while Derosia was able to score on an error on an infield groundball. Strohm's single up the middle allowed Rachel Crafts (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug Regional) to advance to second while Derosia's double hit off the wall in left field which allowed Crafts to score easily. It was Bike's hard hit ball to short that allowed Derosia to score from second as she was running on contact and took advantage of the misplay.
After a pair of scoreless innings, the Panthers came up needing to rally for three runs to stay alive but managed to plate just one before the Chargers ended the threat on a groundball to first. The complete game outing from Fitzmaurice was her 17th of the season, while she improved to 16-7 on the year which ties her for the third most wins in the NE10. Overall, the rookie pitcher surrendered eight hits and allowed a single earned run while striking out two batters.
GAME TWO: Adelphi 3, New Haven 2
New Haven would need to work from behind in the second game after Adelphi opened things up scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, taking advantage of a hit batter and two hits with a double from Hannah Pineda doing the most damage driving in both runs.
The Chargers would muster just two hits over the first two innings before opening up the third inning with four straight hits tying the game and knocking the Panthers starter Nicole Mengel out. Hitting in the ninth position, Catherine Vaughan (Commack, N.Y./Hauppauge) opened up the rally with a single through the left side before swiping second base on the first pitch of leadoff hitter Whitlock's at bat. On her second time up in the game, Whitlock continued the rally with a single up the middle driving in Vaughan.
Case followed Whitlock with a single through the left side for her first hit of the game leaving runners on first and second for Luzzi. The senior shortstop sailed the fourth straight single up the middle which plated Whitlock. The Chargers would manage to load the bases, however stranded all three of those runners.
Adelphi threatened to break open a large lead in the fifth inning but was held to just a single run, however during the process of scoring the go-ahead tally knocked New Haven's starter Iodice out of the game when she was relieved by junior Megan Butts (West Chester, Pa./Henderson).
New Haven left runners stranded in each of the final three innings attempting to complete the come-from-behind victory with the best threat coming in the bottom of the seventh inning with two runners in scoring position with one out. Reliever Jessica Vadala managed to force Crafts into a line drive to right field as the Panthers were able to double up New Haven catching the runner off the bag at second.
