MANCHESTER, N.H. – Freshman designated player Rachel Crafts (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug Regional) led the University of New Haven softball team at the plate scattering three hits across a doubleheader as the Chargers dropped both ends of the twinbill to Saint Anselm on Saturday afternoon.
Crafts was one of four players to finish with multiple hits on the day joined by senior third baseman Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay), senior right fielder Vanessa Strohm (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) and freshman shortstop Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee). Overall, New Haven would finished the day with 12 hits combined across the doubleheader while also finishing 3-of-4 in stolen base attempts with all three coming from different players; Crafts, Luzzi and Case.
In the circle, junior Megan Butts (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) and freshman Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville, N.Y./Greenville) suffered the decisions on the day. Butts gave up seven earned runs on 11 hits in the opener, while the rookie Fitzmaurice surrendered just two runs on six hits in the second game loss.
New Haven will continue a four-game weekend with a Sunday afternoon matinee doubleheader against Saint Michael's on tap. First pitch from Doc Jacobs Field in Colchester, Vt. is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
GAME ONE: Saint Anselm 7, New Haven 2
New Haven began the scoring in the opener, breaking up a scoreless draw in the third inning with a pair of runs, all coming with two outs in the inning. After a leadoff strikeout, leftfielder Catherine Vaughn worked a walked and advanced to second on the second out of the inning, a groundout from Sierra Whitlock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge). The Chargers would rally from that point, rattling off three straight singles from Case, Luzzi and Crafts with the first two of those hits knocking in the two Charger runs.
The Hawks weren't going to give in, pushing five runs across in the bottom of the third to take the lead, one they wouldn't relinquish. Overall, Saint Anselm finished the third inning sending eight players to the dish with five recording hits, including a two-run home run to left center from first baseman Abbie Murrell.
New Haven would manage runners in each of the final three innings but could only muster one of those in scoring position, stranding that runner at second base. The Hawks put the lead out of reach, adding single runs in the sixth and seventh innings.
The junior pitcher Butts would suffer the loss in the circle, her first defeat of the season. She would all seven runs earned on 11 hits while striking out one batter. Freshman Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) come in to relieve buts for the final two outs of the game.
GAME TWO: Saint Anselm 2, New Haven 1
After both teams were held to just two runners over the first three innings of the game, New Haven would again strike first, plating its only run in the top of the fourth inning. The Chargers would threaten in the first and third innings stranding runners just 60 feet shy of the plate in both instances as Case and Vaughan both singled to reach base for the first two New Haven hits.
In the fourth, Luzzi led off the inning with single to right field which was followed by another single, this from Crafts that put two runners aboard. Both Luzzi and Crafts would advance on a double steal with Luzzi able to score on an infield groundout to short.
The Hawks again quickly responded scoring their only two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning for the only lead change of the game. It would only be the first two batters of the inning that Fitzmaurice had trouble with, surrendering a leadoff double before that was followed with a home run to left field from short stop Jordan O'Connor.
New Haven threatened in the top of the fifth with the first two batters reaching safely on a single from Strohm and a walk to Vaughn before the next three Chargers were retired by way of strikeouts to end the threat. The Chargers again looked to rally in the seventh with a one out single from Strohm, however she was left stranded at first to end the game.
