MANCHESTER, N.H. – It came down to a single pitch and there was no doubt about it as it left the bat as senior right fielder Vanessa Strohm (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) went yard just left of center for the walk-off victory as the No.2 SW New Haven softball team defeated No. 3 NE Merrimack to advance to the Northeast-10 Conference Championship semifinal.
Strohm's home run was one of two hits as the led the Chargers at the plate going 2-for-2 with a walk. Overall the Chargers scattered six hits off of Merrimack's starter Jenna Wike as sophomore designated player Jovanna Hillman (Seymour, Conn./Saint Joseph) joined her with a pair of hits. Senior short stop Taylor Luzzi (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) and freshman third baseman Rachel Crafts (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug Regional) also finished with a hit on the day while senior Madison Derosia (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) picked up an RBI on the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
In the circle, freshman Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) earned the victory, throwing 4.1 innings of relief to pick up her 10th victory of the season. Iodice surrendered a single run on five hits while striking out four batters, one in each of the full innings that she threw. Fellow classmate Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville, N.Y./Greenville) started the game for New Haven, allowing a pair of runs off of six hits in 2.2 innings of work.
The Warriors would strike first, putting New Haven in a 2-0 hole heading into the bottom of the third inning. Merrimack picked up its opening run in the top of the first inning with back-to-back one out hits producing the early tally. It was a double to right center that provided the muscle for the first run with that RBI coming from Abigail Amato. In the third inning it was a two-out rally that score the run for the Warriors as Caitlin McBride picked up the RBI as she drove in Hannah Johnson who doubled with one out in the inning.
Facing that two run deficit, the Chargers took advantage of a big error bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game before a sacrifice fly from Dersosia drove in the go-ahead run. New Haven opened up its half of the fourth inning with the first four batters reaching safely as Luzzi started the rally with a single to right center.
Hillman followed that with her second hit of the day driving one through the right side that left runners on first and second for the third baseman, Crafts. The rookie drilled a single to third, deep in the whole, with the throw over not in time and well off the mark as New Haven pushed two runners across on the wild throw, including Hillman who wheeled home from first base. That error also allowed Crafts to reach third where after Strohm was dealt a walk she was able to score when Derosia lifted a high fly ball to right center field. The throw home was not in time as New Haven took the 3-2 lead at the end of the inning.
Iodice would allow a leadoff single in the top of the fifth before retiring the next six batters she faced in order. Heading into the seventh, the Warriors started the game-tying rally with a second bunt single from leadoff batter Tiffany Mangiameli. After she stole second a week grounder to first allowed her to advance to third before a single from Amato drove her in to knot the game at three. Iodice answered by retiring the next two batters in order, including her fourth strike out of the game in looking fashion that sent New Haven into the bottom of the seventh inning.
As Strohm stepped into the box, the senior wasn't going to wait long as she drilled the first pitch she faced from Wike on a line just left of centerfield, leaving no doubt in the mind of anyone at the ballpark. The home run was her third of the season and her first in walk-off fashion.
New Haven advances to the semifinal round of the NE10 Championship for the first time since the 2014 season. The Chargers will take on the top seed from the Northeast Division and host of Championship weekend Saint Anselm with first pitch slated for 10:00 a.m. at the South Athletic Fields. Fans who cannot make the early start can catch all the action live on NE10 Now with links available on the 2019 Schedule.
