WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The New Haven softball team combined for 14 runs on 20 hits as they opened the 2021 campaign with a doubleheader sweep in non-divisional conference action against Stonehill, taking the opening game 4-1 and the nightcap 10-2 in six innings.

Leading the Chargers offense on the day was junior Nahtali Simpson (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) who finished with three hits in four at bats with a double and a pair of walks, while also swiping five total bases, three in the opening game and two more in game two. Simpson was one of six different players to all rack up multiple hits on the afternoon double dip with junior Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) and freshman Ashley Veisz (Robbinsville,N.J./Robbinsville) each scattering a team-high four hits. Included in Case's four base knocks were three for extra bases, two doubles and a triple.

Both Case and Veisz also knocked in a pair of runs as they were joined by seniors Jovanna Hillman (Seymour, Conn./Saint Joseph) and Melissa Bike (Stratford, Conn./Saint Joseph) all leading the way in the RBI column. Hillman was also among the multi-hit players as she finished with three total while also earning two walks.

In the circle, the junior duo of Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) and Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville, N.Y./Greenville) combined for the victories in the circle. Iodice threw a seven-inning complete game in the opener to earn her first win of the year, allowing a single earned run on four hits while striking out six batters. Fitzmaurice matched that strikeout total after allowing two early earned runs but rebounding to give up just three additional hits after the opening frame.

In the opener, the Blue and Gold stuck first with an RBI single from Hillman breaking up a scoreless stalemate in the third inning when she drove in Fitzmaurice who reached thanks to a double. After the Skyhawks tied the game in the fourth inning, New Haven rebounded with two runs in its half of the fourth inning with Bike and Case knocking in the runs on back-to-back at bats.

Fitzmaurice would sacrifice herself in the sixth inning to add to New Haven lead when she drove in Case who reached on a three-bagger to right center.

The Chargers would have to work from behind in game two after surrendering a pair of runs in the top of the first. New Haven answered quickly with three runs in the bottom half of that inning and holding the Skyhawks scoreless through the next five frames.

Veisz would begin the Chargers rally in the bottom of the first with a one-out two-RBI triple to right field, the second three-bagger of the day for the Blue and Gold. She was then rewarded on the next at bat when classmate Morgan Fisher (Erial, N.J./Paul VI) sailed a fly ball to left field with Veisz tagging to give her team the lead.

New Haven would add to its lead with at least a single run in each of the next three innings, starting to put the game out of reach in the bottom of the second inning with four runs to put the Chargers lead at 7-2. In that frame, the first four batters of the inning all reached safely with the first RBI of the inning courtesy of Bike who drove in Simpson from second base after she successfully swiped another base after walking.

Junior Emily Bump (Stratford, Conn./Lauralton Hall)  followed with an RBI single before Case drove in a run on the next at bat when she doubled to left centerfield. The final run came thanks to Hillman who singled to left, rewarding Case who scored from third. The next two New Haven runs, one each in the third and fourth innings, were made possible courtesy of Stonehill miscues.

The Chargers would end the game in the sixth inning when Fisher flew out to centerfield, deep enough for the speedy Fitzmaurice to score from second base.

New Haven looks to return to the diamond one week from today when they will host another Northeast Division NE10 member, Saint Anselm, at the New Haven Softball Field. First pitch in the doubleheader is slated for 12:00 p.m.