THE LEAD
The New Haven softball team will look to add to its season-opening sweep of Stonehill when they welcome the Saint Anselm Hawks to the New Haven Softball Field for a two-game set on Saturday afternoon. First pitch of the double-dip is slated for 12:00 p.m. with first pitch of game two to follow the conclusion of game one by approximately 30 minutes. All the action from the UNH Softball Field will be broadcast live on the Charger Sports Network on NE10 NOW. Â
2021 FAN POLICY FOR HOME GAMES
With the primary goal of keep those within the University Community safe, UNH will not be allowing fans from outside of the campus community at any athletic event. Any student, faculty or staff member attending an athletic contest must prove clearance in CoVerified upon arrival. Athletic facilities will be subject to State capacity limitations and spectators must abide University by masking and social distancing guidelines at all times. This policy includes all venues on the University's main campus and the North Campus athletic facilities and parking lots. Tailgating outside of venues is also prohibited. UNH will continue to monitor the pandemic and will adjust the policy should the opportunity exist. While this policy is in place, the Department of Athletics will make every effort to broadcast all home games on the Charger Sports Network on NE10 NOW. For a list of upcoming broadcasts Click Here.
SERIES HISTORY VS SAINT ANSELM
In a series that dates back prior to New Haven joining the Northeast-10, New Haven holds a 19-11 (.633) overall record against its Northeast Division foe. The first ever meeting between the two squads came in March of 1995 with the Chargers sweeping the Hawks that season by a combined total of 20-1. In most recent memory, Saint Anselm swept three meetings during the 2019 campaign, the first two in a regular season doubleheader and the final by a 5-1 margin in the NE10 Championship semifinals.
SCOUTING THE CHARGERS
New Haven opened its season with a sweep of Stonehill last weekend with scored of 4-1 in the opener and a 10-2 run rule victory in game two. A strong day at the plate for the Chargers concluded with 20 hits, with eight different players getting in on the action. Leading the way was junior shortstop Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) and freshman infielder Ashley Veisz (Robbinsville,N.J./Robbinsville) who each finished with four hits. Junior infielder/outfielder Nahtali Simpson (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) also had herself a day as she finished with three hits in four at bats with a pair of walks, while successfully swiping five bases in as many attempts. In total, among the 20 total hits, eight went for extra bases. In the circle, juniors Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) and Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville, N.Y./Greenville) earned the victories. Iodice threw a seven inning complete game, surrendering a single run on four hits and striking out six batters. Fitzmaurice gave up two runs in six innings of work while also striking out six batters.
SCOUTING THE HAWKS
Saint Anselm will open its 2021 campaign against the Chargers this weekend. The last time the Hawks took the field on March 7, 2020 concluding nine-day trip to Florida that closed out their 2020 with the remainder of the season canceled due to the CoVID-19 pandemic. Overall, Saint Anselm managed to get 20 games in before the shutdown with a trip to South Carolina preceding the one to the Sunshine State. In those 20 games, the Hawks finished 16-4 and were led by Maggie Murphy who opted to not return for 2021. Murphy finished the season with 27 hits and a .450 average, while driving in 12 runs. Following her in the hits column was Shannon Colson who returns for her senior year this season. She closed out the shortened season with 20 hits, while Bre Klaiber, a returning junior, led the team with 14 RBI. In the circle Saint Anselm returns all three of their pitchers from last season, led by senior Morgan Perry and sophomore McKenna Smith who finished with 0.52 and 0.87 ERA's respectively. The pair also combined to striking out 170 batters in 107 innings of work.
THE 2021 SCHEDULE
As recently announced by the league, the NE10 adopted a divisional format for 2021 – Northeast and Southwest – with all schools slated to play a 24-game conference schedule. Series will consist of four games on weekends in doubleheader format, while schools maintain the ability to extend the weekend series to three days or alter the days in which they play in accordance with academic calendars. New Haven will play in the Southwest Division which is made up of seven teams including Adelphi, American International, Le Moyne, Pace, Saint Rose and Southern Connecticut. In addition to its 24-game conference schedule, New Haven will play seven non-divisional dates, including one out of conference opponent, Molloy, bringing their total scheduled games for 2021 to 38.
CHARGERS SECOND IN PRESEASON POLL
In a poll of the conference's 14 head coaches, the UNH softball team was selected to finish second, among the seven teams, in the Southwest Division. The Chargers received 81 points and four of the 14 possible first place votes to finish just behind Adelphi who garnered 87 points and the remaining 10 first place votes. Rounding out the top-five was Pace (68 points), Le Moyne (53) and Saint Rose (36). Southern Connecticut came in at sixth with 32 points, while American International rounds out the division in seventh place with 28 points.
UP NEXT
New Haven will welcome its only non-conference competition of the season with a midweek match up against Molloy on the docket for Thursday, March 24. First pitch against the East Coast Conference foe is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at the New Haven Softball field. The doubleheader will be broadcast live on the Charger Sports Network on NE10 NOW. Live stats will also be available via NewHavenChargers.com.
