GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: April 2 & April 5, 2021
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LOCATION: Ficke Field
Garden City, N.Y. |
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GAME DAY LINKS |
LIVE STATS
Saturday Live Video: GAME ONE | GAME TWO
Monday Live Video: GAME ONE | GAME TWO
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THE LEAD
The New Haven softball team looks to continue its winnings ways as they travel for the first time this season, heading to Long Island for a pair of dates against the Adelphi Panthers. The series will begin with a Thursday afternoon (2:00 PM) doubleheader before concluding with another double-dip on Saturday afternoon (12:00 PM). All the action from Adelphi's Ficke Field will be broadcast live on NE10 NOW.
SERIES HISTORY VS ADELPHI
In a series that totals 77 games prior to this weekend's series, the Panthers hold a 40-37 advantage all-time against New Haven. Ever since a 10-game win streak for Adelphi was halted with the first of three meetings in 2010, the Panthers and Chargers have played dead-even series at 20-20 over the last decade. In most recent memory, the two squads met five times in 2019, splitting the regular season series that year with each team going 1-1 on each other's home field. The final match-up came in the NCAA East Regional's with New Haven eliminating Adelphi from regional play with a 6-2 victory in Wilmington, Del.
SCOUTING THE CHARGERS
New Haven has won its last three games heading into the Adelphi series with the most recent wins a sweep of previously unbeaten Molloy at the UNH Softball Field. Overall for the season, New Haven is led by freshman third baseman Ashley Veisz (Robbinsville,N.J./Robbinsville) who has scattered nine hits across 20 at bats while driving in a team-best six runs. Just behind her in the hits column is junior middle infielders Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) and Nahtali Simpson (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) who have seven and six hits, respectively. In the circle, a pair of junior hurlers have pitched every inning for the Blue and Gold with Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) leading the duo with a 1.03 earned run average. In 20.1 innings of work she has allowed four runs, three earned, on 13 hits and eight walks. She has also struck out 15 batters. Staff-mate Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville, N.Y./Greenville) holds a 1.35 ERA with a perfect 3-0 record and a save to her credit. In 20.2 innings of work, Fitzmaurice has allowed six runs, four earned, on 18 hits and two walks, adding a team-high 19 strikeouts. Fitzmaurice also adds five hits and an RBI to the offensive efforts.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
Adelphi had its most recent scheduled games, a doubleheader versus Southern Connecticut, postponed due to travel issues for the Owls. Heading into the weekend series with the Chargers, Adelphi stands at 7-3 on the year, including 5-1 in Northeast-10 action. The series versus New Haven will be the third in Southwest Division play for Adelphi after posting a 3-1 record in four games against Pace and sweeping the first half of the series against Southern Connecticut this past Saturday. For the season, Adelphi is led by senior outfielder Lauren O'Neill who has scattered 12 hits, drove in eight runs and scored 10 of her own, starting all 10 games so far this season. She represents the only player with double digit hits on the year junior Emily Whitman is next up with nine. In the circle, senior Nicole Mengel leads a trio of pitchers with a 1.67 ERA. In 21 innings of work she has surrendered five earned runs, six total, on 14 hits and seven walks while striking out nine batters. Senior Ally Muller has seen the most action in the circle, pitching 31 innings and registering a team-high 40 strikeouts, among 62 total for the team.
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 return to the Nutmeg State for the first of three dates with crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State University when they travel to the Owls Pelz Field on Wednesday, April 7. First pitch in game one of what is scheduled to be a six-game series this season is slated for2:30 p.m. with all the action available live on NE10NOW.
