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WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Junior pitcher Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville, N.Y./Greenville) pitched a scoreless complete game to lead the New Haven softball team in a Sunday afternoon split with No. 17 Saint Anselm at the New Haven Softball Field.
Fitzmaurice, who improved to 2-0 on the season, surrendered five hits and struck out six batters in the night cap as her offense provided an early 3-0 lead to work with. She would work out of trouble on a couple of occasions, including to secure the victory on a 1-6-3 double play to one-out single and secure the shutout victory.
At the plate, New Haven was led on the day by junior shortstop Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) who finished with a pair of hits, while five other players also added base knocks on the afternoon. Freshman third baseman Ashley Veisz (Robbinsville,N.J./Robbinsville) and rookie leftfielder Ellie Frederick (Sunapee, N.H./Sunapee) each closed out the day with a single RBI.
GAME 1: Saint Anselm 2, New Haven 0
Saint Anselm's starting pitcher Morgan Perry threw a complete-game no hitter to lead the Hawks to a 2-0 shutout in the opener. Perry also struck out 16 Chargers, falling one K shy of breaking Saint Anselm's single game strikeout record.
The Hawks would plate both of their runs in the fifth inning, the first on a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt and the second on a bases loaded single to left. New Haven would manage a single base runner in the opening game, that coming courtesy of a dropped infield popup by the pitcher. Despite Fitzmaurice reaching on the error and putting herself in scoring position with a stolen base, she was left stranded as Perry closed out the frame with her eight strikeout of the game.
GAME 2: New Haven 3, Saint Anselm 0
New Haven would get on the board early after Fitzmaurice opened up the game stranding one runner on in the top half of the first. The Blue and Gold bats would heat up early with a leadoff single through the left side from Case. A fielder's choice on the next at bat kept one runner aboard as the middle of the lineup did their job.
Fitzmaurice and Veisz would put up back-to-back single with the later of those two knocking in Nahtali Simpson (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) from second and leaving runners on first and second. Another fielder's choice would erase the lead runner, again leaving runners on first and second for Frederick who drove a single through the left side, allowing Veisz to score from second.
The third run for New Haven would come in the second inning as the Blue and Gold used a double steal to put the Hawks defense on their toes. With both runners taking off, the Hawks catcher threw from her knees to third with the ball going wide of the base and allowing right fielder Cayley Gottschall (Tampa, Fla./Sunlake) to score and Case to advance to third. Case had originally singled up the middle to reach base, which knocked the Hawks starter out the game.
Overall, Fitzmaurice would strand five runners on base with her defense putting together a trio of double plays, including the one to secure the victory. The first double play came on a line drive to second that caught the runner at first off her bag. In the fourth inning, the Chargers would work out of runners at first and second with one out by Veisz tagging third and throwing across the diamond to get the runner at first.
NEXT ON TAP
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.
