VIERA, Fla. – The New Haven softball team opened up its 2020 season splitting a doubleheader on day one of the Florida Tech Invitational at the USSSA Space Coast Complex in Viera, Fla. Leading the Chargers on the day was sophomore Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville, N.Y./Greenville) who along with racking up a team-high three hits combined across the two games, she also earned the team's first victory in the circle with a 6-3 decision over Palm Beach Atlantic.
Fitzmaurice opened up the season with a pair of hits, including a double, in the season opener against West Florida as the Chargers dropped an 8-0 decision. Her two hits against the Argos were the only two hits against the 2020 version of a team that advanced to the NCAA Division II Championship series last spring.
In the second game of the day against Palm Beach, she again hit in the leadoff position, this time while also starting the game out in the circle. Fitzmaurice would finish with one hit against Palm Beach, another double, while allowing two earned runs in a complete game victory. She would also strike out three batters.
Leading the Blue and Gold at the plate in game two was sophomore Nahtali Simpson (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) who drove in a pair of runs with her first collegiate double that landed in right center field and drove in a pair of runs as part of a four-run inning. Overall, the Chargers would scatter five hits against Palm Beach, all coming from different players. In addition to Simpson and Fitzmaurice, senior Catherine Vaughan (Commack, N.Y./Hauppauge), sophomore Melissa Bike (Stratford, Conn./Saint Joseph) and junior Jovanna Hillman (Seymour, Conn./Saint Joseph) all finished with a single against the Sailfish.
Earning the Chargers early decision in the circle was sophomore Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) who also threw a complete game against West Florida, suffering her first loss of the season. Iodice would surrender all eight runs, seven of which were earned, on nine hits and four walks. She also struck out two batters.
New Haven will continue action at the Florida Tech Invitational with two games on Saturday, opening up the day with a noon first pitch against West Georgia. The double header will conclude against Florida Southern with first pitch in game two slated for 5:00 p.m.
