VIERA, Fla. – On day two of the Florida Tech Invitational at the USSSA Space Coast Complex in Viera, Fla., the New Haven softball team split a doubleheader, dropping a 4-0 decision to West Georgia before scoring a 3-1 victory over Florida Southern in the nightcap. Leading the Chargers on the day was sophomore Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville, N.Y./Greenville) who not only earned the victory in the circle but also drove in all three runs against the Mocs on her first collegiate home run.

The home run for Fitzmaurice is the only hit of the day for the sophomore pitcher and outfielder and the only extra base hit for New Haven, but it was the most important. Overall, a pair of Chargers led the way at the plate with a pair of hits with sophomores Nahtali Simpson (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) and Katrina Aponte (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) each closing out the nightcap over Florida Southern with a pair of base knocks.

In the opening game, the Chargers were limited to a single hit which came from junior first baseman Melissa Bike (Stratford, Conn./Saint Joseph). In the circle, senior Meg Butts suffered the loss to West Georgia, allowing four runs, three earned on nine hits and five walks. She also struck out five batters, the most of any Chargers pitcher this season. Freshman Selina Aponte also saw time in the circle, pitching two-thirds of an inning without giving up a hit and striking out one batter.

In the nightcap against Florida Southern, the Chargers combined for six total hits, the pair each from Simpson and Aponte and a three run blast from Fitzmaurice among the highlights.

In the circle, Fitzmaurice threw her second straight complete game, earning her second victor of the season. Overall she allowed five hits from the Mocs while walking two batters and striking out one. She was also tagged with the one earned run.

The Chargers will close out the Florida Tech Invitational on Sunday with a single game against Angelo State, a 34 win team in 2019. First pitch against the Rams is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.