WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Senior centerfielder Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) finished 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored out of the leadoff position to lead the University of New Haven softball team in a 6-0 win over the visiting Pace Setters on Wednesday afternoon. The Chargers and Setters were then suspended prior to the start of the ninth inning in game two tied at 3-3 with that game slated to be completed prior to the series finale on Tuesday, April 9 at Pace Softball Field in Pleasantville, N.Y.

Combined over the doubleheader, Whitlock was one of two Chargers to finish with four hits on the day, adding one more in the suspended game. Joining her in leading the Blue and Gold at the plate was senior shortstop Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) who finished with a pair of hits in each of the games. She also drove in two runs along with junior catcher Samantha Errera (Sweetwater, N.J./Cedar Creek) and freshman designated player Rachel Crafts (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug Regional).

In the circle, freshman Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville, N.Y./Greenville) collected her first shutout of the season in the opening game, throwing the full seven-inning outing allowing five hits and striking out three batters. She also did not walk a batter. Classmate Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) also had a very affective outing, coming in as a reliever in game two, she allowed a single unearned run on four hits and struck out six batters in 6.2 innings of work.

The Chargers will next return to the field on Saturday when they begin back-to-back non-divisional NE10 doubleheaders with the Saint Anselm Hawks. First pitch from South Athletic Fields in Manchester, N.H. is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.

GAME ONE: New Haven 6, Pace 0

New Haven began scoring right out of the gates with leadoff batter Whitlock opening up the game with a single to centerfielder and was able to quickly get into scoring position on an outfield error. After a successful sacrifice from Luzzi allowed her to advance 60 more feet, she was able to score on another sacrifice, this time with freshman Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) giving herself up for the team.

The Chargers added two more runs in the second, again taking advantage of a leadoff single as first baseman Melissa Bike (Stratford, Conn./Saint Joseph) legged out an infield single to third. After the first out was recorded, right fielder Vanessa Strohm (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) doubled to left field leaving a pair of runners in scoring position for the catcher, Errera. She made it two-straight doubles with her extra base hit allowing both runners to score.

On the flipside, despite giving up a leadoff single and a single in the third, Fitzmaurice faced just nine batters in her first three innings as her defense picked her up with double plays in both of those frames. Overall, she would face just two batters over the minimum, surrendering five total hits with her defense collecting three double plays, adding another in the sixth inning following another leadoff single.

The Chargers would add their final runs in the fifth and sixth innings, a single run in the fifth and two more in the sixth. In the fifth inning it was the designated hitter Crafts that drove in the run, knocking in Whitlock who again led off the inning with a single, this time knocking it up the middle.

IN the sixth inning, New Haven would again start out the inning with a single as Strohm started things off with a single to left field. She was able to score three batters later when Whitlock came up clutch with a two-out triple to left center before being rewarded on the next at bat by Luzzi who singled through the left side.

GAME TWO: New Haven 3, Pace 3

Pace opened up the scoring in game two as it took the Chargers a couple of innings to figure out the Setters starter, freshman Kate Dolinski. Pace put its first two runs on the board in the second inning, knocking out the Charger starter Megan Butts (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) in the process. With Iodice coming in to relieve Butts, the rookie faced a bases loaded one out situation, ending the threat with back-to-back strikeouts of the second and third hole hitters for Pace.

The Chargers weren't able to respond until the fourth inning when Whitlock again led things off with a single, legging out a base knock to short. Freshman shortstop Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) followed that with a single to right center before Luzzi looked to sacrifice herself but managed to reach safely on the bunt attempt. That bunt from Luzzi also allowed Whitlock to score after advancing to third on Case's single.

The hits kept coming for the Blue and Gold with Crafts and Bike following with singles as Crafts knocked in Case and Luzzi took advantage of a passed ball to score the final run in the inning.

Pace managed to tie the game two innings later, taking advantage of a two-base error on a fly ball to left field during a very windy afternoon at the New Haven Softball Field. The Chargers would then strand a pair of runners on base in the sixth before the game was forced into extra innings. After Pace threatened in the eighth stranding runners on the corners, the Chargers were retired in order in the bottom half of the inning before the game was called for darkness.