THE LEAD
Coming off a Sunday split with No. 17 Saint Anselm, the New Haven softball team will host Molloy College Thursday for its only non-league doubleheader of the season. First pitch in game one is set for 2:00 p.m. with game two to follow approximately 30 minutes after the final out. All the action from West Haven will be broadcast live on the Charger Sports Network on NE10 NOW.
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 MOLLOY
In a series that dates back to the 2001 season, New Haven holds an 18-9 (.667) overall record against the Lions. The Chargers have dominated as of late, winning five of the last seven games dating back to the 2012 season. When they last met in 2019 the two sides split a doubleheader in New Jersey with UNH taking game one 6-4 and Molloy taking the second game 4-1.
SCOUTING THE CHARGERS
New Haven opened its season outscoring Stonehill in a doubleheader by a combined 14-3 before hosting Saint Anselm in an afternoon matinee on Sunday. After dropping a 2-0 decision in game one, New Haven's resiliency shined through, swinging the momentum in game two as UNH blanked the visitors 3-0. Junior Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville, N.Y./Greenville) threw a complete game giving up just five hits as she moved to 2-0 on the year. At the dish, freshman Ashley Veisz (Robbinsville,N.J./Robbinsville) went 1-for-3 with an RBI and scoring a run. On the season, a pair of juniors continue to lead the Blue and Gold as Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) enters Thursday with a .429 batting average with six hits and a pair of RBI's in 14 plate appearances. With an ERA just over one, Fitzmaurice continues to lead the pitching staff for the Blue in Gold with two wins in as many appearances allowing just two runs in 13 innings of work.
SCOUTING THE LIONS
Molloy enters Thursday winners of its first eight games on the year, scoring 50 runs in those games with eight home runs on the young season. Their most recent matchup came Tuesday when they hosted a double-dip with Adelphi, sweeping the Panthers 2-1 and 4-0. Leading the Lion offense is freshman Chrissie Huhn who enters Thursday batting an even .500 with 13 hits and five RBI's in 26 at-bats. She leads a group of eight Molloy players who are all hitting .300 or better on the season while as a team, the Lions are hitting .344. In the circle, senior Courtney Greene sports a perfect 6-0 record, including five complete games and a pair of shutouts. In 39 innings of work, she has surrendered just five total runs, four earned, for a 0.71 ERA and has struck out 32 batters.
THE 2021 SCHEDULE
As 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 hit the road for the first time in 2021 when they head to Syracuse, N.Y. for a weekend series with Le Moyne College. The two sides will play doubleheaders both Saturday and Sunday with first pitch on both days scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
